Jeff Carpenter
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Originalist
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jeff Carpenter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
Court of Appeals, Seat 7
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, Juris Doctor, 2003
UNC at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, BA, 1994
WORK & MILITARY
North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Trooper, 1994-2000
AFFILIATIONS
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Chair of the Board of Deacons, Union Academy Charter School
Member - Board of Directors, Committee on Economic Development — Anson County, Committee member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Superior Court Judge, 2016 to present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Court of Appeal Judge, 2020
Superior Court Judge, 2016
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)
North Carolina Values Coalition
LIBERAL (1)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) PAC
OTHER (3)
Boots of Recovery
*North Carolina Troopers Association
Wake GOP
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2016)
Mark Brody (2016)
Pat McCrory (2016)
Richard Hudson (2014)
State Republican Party Organizations (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Dean Arp (2016)
Mark Brody (2016)
Ralph W. Norman (2016)
Tommy Tucker (2016)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2012)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
No Answer
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
No Answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of Chruch and State to me means that the Church is not to be the Government, but that the citizens shall select their government representatives and that the citizens shall be free to worship and engage in their religion as they choose free of government interference.
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of Chruch and State to me means that the Church is not to be the Government, but that the citizens shall select their government representatives and that the citizens shall be free to worship and engage in their religion as they choose free of government interference.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Strongly Agree
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Strongly Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The founders devised separate and limited powers distributed among 3 co-equal branches of Government to allow the people to govern themselves through their elected representatives, and not be ruled by a government. The founders also wanted the branches of government to be accountable to the citizens of the country therefore setting term lengths for the House at 2 years, the Senate at 6 years, and the Executive at 4 years to provide accountability and stability in, and continuity of government.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The founders devised separate and limited powers distributed among 3 co-equal branches of Government to allow the people to govern themselves through their elected representatives, and not be ruled by a government. The founders also wanted the branches of government to be accountable to the citizens of the country therefore setting term lengths for the House at 2 years, the Senate at 6 years, and the Executive at 4 years to provide accountability and stability in, and continuity of government.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a traditional conservative Christian, I am a member of, and regularly attend Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. I have served in the leadership of my Church as a Deacon, I have also served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons for my Church. I have rotated off the Board of Deacons but have served for many years and continue to serve as an Usher at my church. My values are those of a traditional conservative Christian of the Baptist denomination.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a traditional conservative Christian, I am a member of, and regularly attend Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. I have served in the leadership of my Church as a Deacon, I have also served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons for my Church. I have rotated off the Board of Deacons but have served for many years and continue to serve as an Usher at my church. My values are those of a traditional conservative Christian of the Baptist denomination.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges allowing members of the same sex to marry, which justice’s opinion in that case most closely approximates your understanding of marriage?
Justice Scalia
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges allowing members of the same sex to marry, which justice’s opinion in that case most closely approximates your understanding of marriage?
Justice Scalia
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Republican Primary, 2018 General Election
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Republican Primary, 2018 General Election
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I wrote the dissenting opinion in the Cooper v. Berger, et al; Wake County file number 18 CVS 9805. In this case Governor Cooper sued the legislature to prevent the Constitutional Amendments passed in accord with the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution from appearing on the ballot in 2018.
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I wrote the dissenting opinion in the Cooper v. Berger, et al; Wake County file number 18 CVS 9805. In this case Governor Cooper sued the legislature to prevent the Constitutional Amendments passed in accord with the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution from appearing on the ballot in 2018.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have been a NC State Trooper enforcing the laws of NC and testifying as a witness in the trial of criminal and civil matters in that capacity. Every case that is addressed in a Appeals Court begins in a trial Court. I was an in the courtroom, Trial Court attorney for 13 years trying hundreds if not more than a thousand cases to verdict or final judgment in the District and Superior Courts. I have been a Judge in the Superior Court, (the highest level trial court in North Carolina) for more than 4 years and have presided over hundreds of cases applying our laws.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have been a NC State Trooper enforcing the laws of NC and testifying as a witness in the trial of criminal and civil matters in that capacity. Every case that is addressed in a Appeals Court begins in a trial Court. I was an in the courtroom, Trial Court attorney for 13 years trying hundreds if not more than a thousand cases to verdict or final judgment in the District and Superior Courts. I have been a Judge in the Superior Court, (the highest level trial court in North Carolina) for more than 4 years and have presided over hundreds of cases applying our laws.
In what areas of law have you practiced?
Criminal and Civil litigation, I have represented several banks and other business clients. I have personally tried approximately 50 jury trials to verdict in the Criminal and Civil Courts and I have tried approximately 100 domestic cases.
In what areas of law have you practiced?
Criminal and Civil litigation, I have represented several banks and other business clients. I have personally tried approximately 50 jury trials to verdict in the Criminal and Civil Courts and I have tried approximately 100 domestic cases.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
I have not.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
I have not.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Our citizens deserve and are entitled to a judicial system that is fair, predictable and stable. To that end, I will treat everyone having matters before the Court fairly and equally, I will apply the law as written, and I will strictly construe the Constitution as it was adopted by our citizens In order to do my best to ensure that our citizens have the benefit of a fair, predictable, and stable judiciary.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Our citizens deserve and are entitled to a judicial system that is fair, predictable and stable. To that end, I will treat everyone having matters before the Court fairly and equally, I will apply the law as written, and I will strictly construe the Constitution as it was adopted by our citizens In order to do my best to ensure that our citizens have the benefit of a fair, predictable, and stable judiciary.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
Strongly Disagree
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
Strongly Disagree
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
Strongly Disagree
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
Strongly Disagree
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
There should be more than nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Disagree
There should be more than nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Disagree
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Justice Clarence Thomas
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Justice Clarence Thomas
Which U.S. president serving after 1960 best reflects your political philosophy?
Ronald Reagan
Which U.S. president serving after 1960 best reflects your political philosophy?
Ronald Reagan
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
If the law is clear it should be applied as enacted and not interpreted at all. If there is ambiguity in the law Judges should look to legislative history in order to understand the legislative intent behind the law and to interpret and apply the law consistent with the legislative intent.
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
If the law is clear it should be applied as enacted and not interpreted at all. If there is ambiguity in the law Judges should look to legislative history in order to understand the legislative intent behind the law and to interpret and apply the law consistent with the legislative intent.
What specific text in the Declaration of Independence provides the critical basis for individual rights and the form of government guaranteed in the United States Constitution?
The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence provides the basis for individual rights and the form of Government guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
What specific text in the Declaration of Independence provides the critical basis for individual rights and the form of government guaranteed in the United States Constitution?
The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence provides the basis for individual rights and the form of Government guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
