Candidate Name:
Chris Brook
Candidate’s Preferred Pronouns
he/him/his
What office are you running for?
North Carolina Court of Appeals, seat 13
With which party are you running for office?
Democratic Party
Election Date
November 3, 2020
Why are you running for office?
I am running to keep my seat on the North Carolina Court of Appeals because my legal career, including my work on the bench, has been defined a desire to ensure everyone in North Carolina is treated fairly and equally.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?
The biggest challenge facing those interacting with our court system is access to justice. Chief Justice Martin began addressing this issue, and Chief Justice Beasley has continued and expanded this work. I am a huge fan of her diversionary court efforts. These efforts help to ensure young people get the help and guidance they need and do not get a permanent criminal record unless their mistakes truly merit that. I play a role in expanding North Carolinians’ options for solving problems in the court system through my work with the Court of Appeals mediation program, which offers those before our Court alternative means of resolving their disputes.
How do we fix the partisan divide in our country and start working together again?
First and foremost, we should be willing to hear and engage with opinions that differ from our own. I pride myself on being a good colleague at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Central to that is constructively engaging with other judges when they disagree with my opinion. We may not find a way to bridge the gap, but, in my opinion, every opinion I write benefits from outside input and, on occasion, from differing opinions that make me sharpen up my assessment.
Who is your hero?
I am a huge fan of Justice Elena Kagan. She is not only a huge intellect but also a wonderful, accessible writer. And, from all reports, she is a great colleague.
What are your hobbies?
Reading. Hiking. Playing soccer. Carolina basketball.
What is the most recent book you read?
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
Do you have any kids/pets/talking houseplants?
Moira and I have two cats, Oliver and Busy.
How can our readers get involved in your campaign?
To get involved and support my campaign, you can visit our campaign website at www.keepjudgechrisbrook.com.
What question do you wish we’d asked, and what is your answer?
What is your favorite part of working at the North Carolina Court of Appeals?
My favorite part of the job is working my legal clerks, who are each young attorneys learning the ropes and brilliant.
Candidate Social Media:
Post created from answers submitted by candidate to our Meet the Candidate survey.
