Cheri Beasley sworn in as NC chief justice

Published 7:14 pm Friday, March 1, 2019

Associated Press

RALEIGH — North Carolina officially has a new chief justice.

A court system spokeswoman confirmed that Cheri Beasley was sworn in Friday morning in a private ceremony at the state Supreme Court.

She becomes the first African-American woman to serve as North Carolina’s chief justice.

A formal, public ceremony is set for next week at the court.

Gov. Roy Cooper elevated Beasley — an associate justice since late 2012 — to the chief justice’s position with the resignation of Mark Martin, whose official last day was Thursday. Martin is the new dean at Regent University law school in Virginia.

Beasley’s chief justice appointment lasts through the end of next year. She said she plans to run for a full-eight term in the 2020 elections.