Welcome back to The Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio. In this episode, Peter Pappas sits down with North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls for an insightful conversation about her personal journey, her dedication to civil rights, and her distinguished career on the bench. Raised in a mixed-race family that overcame legal barriers, Anita Earls shares how those formative experiences shaped her passion for law and motivated her lifelong commitment to justice. From reflecting on landmark cases involving voting rights and partisan gerrymandering to addressing the challenges facing today’s judiciary, Anita Earls offers candid perspectives on the importance of a fair, informed, and accessible legal system in North Carolina. Whether you’re curious about her path from Seattle to Durham, her work with the legendary Julius Chambers, or her thoughts on keeping our democracy healthy, this episode delivers thoughtful commentary on the intersection of law, community, and public service.
Justice Earls faces Republican Sarah Stevens in November. Find all of our candidate conversations at thecarolinacabinet.com.
00:00 Intro: why she became a civil rights lawyer
06:14 Thirty years as a civil rights attorney
08:44 Suing and defending the state
12:24 Attack ads and a lawyer's past clients
13:43 Why both sides need good lawyers
19:54 State constitutions and gerrymandering
20:59 Measuring fair districts
24:52 What extreme gerrymandering does to voters
27:20 The Griffin case and "bloodless coup"
31:12 School funding and her campaign
34:22 Where to find Justice Earls
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