Newby to seek Chief Justice seat in 2020

Justice Paul Newby welcomes N.C. Boy Scouts to the N.C. Supreme Court on Friday for presentation of the 2018 Boy Scouts of America Annual Report to the State. (Lauren Rose / North State Journal)

RALEIGH — Justice Paul Newby will seek the seat being vacated by his fellow Republican jurist Mark Martin. Martin made a surprise announcement on Friday that he would step down in February to become dean of Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Va.

Newby confirmed to the North State Journal that he would seek the top seat on the N.C. Supreme Court in 2020. The N.C. GOP issued a release on Friday stating that Newby, whose seat is up for election in 2020, will shift from the associate position to the chief justice seat as he seeks a third term on the state’s highest court.

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Newby was born in Asheboro and graduated from Ragsdale High School in Jamestown. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke and studied law at UNC Chapel Hill. Prior to joining the N.C. Supreme Court, Newby spent 20 years as Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.