J. Douglas McCullough is an American lawyer and former judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. McCullough retired in 2017.[1]

Douglas McCullough
Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
In office
January 1, 2011 – April 24, 2017
Preceded byCressie Thigpen
Succeeded byJohn S. Arrowood
In office
January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2009
Preceded byClarence Horton
Succeeded byCheri Beasley
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLucci
Children2
ResidenceAtlantic Beach, North Carolina
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)
University of South Carolina (JD)

Education and career

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After earning a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina in 1970, McCullough served in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves. McCullough worked as legislative counsel for New Mexico Senator Harrison Schmitt, as a counsel to the United States Senate, and finally as an Assistant United States Attorney in the eastern district of North Carolina from 1981 through 1996, when he left to enter private practice.

In November 2000, McCullough was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals with just over 50 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Clarence Horton.[2]

Personal life

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He is married to Lucci McCullough and has two children. He resides in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

On October 7, 2006, McCullough was charged with drunk driving. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on April 3, 2007.[3]

Elections

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2008 re-election campaign

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McCullough is a registered Republican, but in his 2008 bid for re-election, he cited bipartisan support from notables such as former NC Supreme Court Chief Justices Burley Mitchell (a Democrat) and I. Beverly Lake Jr. (a Republican).[4] He also enjoyed support from former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judges S. Gerald Arnold, Sidney S. Eagles, K. Edward Greene, and Albert S. Thomas Jr.

McCullough was criticized in 2007 for implying that he and other incumbent Republican incumbents should be re-elected because they would favor Republicans in an anticipated lawsuit over redistricting.[5][6][7] An ethics complaint was filed against him as a result of his comments.[8] In response to the complaint, the state Judicial Standards Commission said it would not punish McCullough, but it also said that it had made "an effort to ensure such conduct is not repeated."[9]

McCullough was defeated in the November 2008 election by state District Court judge Cheri Beasley.[10][11]

2010 election

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McCullough won a new term on the Court of Appeals in 2010, when he came in second in the first round, but won the second round, of the first use of instant runoff voting for a statewide election in North Carolina. He narrowly defeated appointed incumbent judge Cressie Thigpen.[12]

Electoral history

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2010

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North Carolina Court of Appeals (Wynn seat) election, 2010[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Cressie Thigpen (incumbent) 395,220 20.33%
Nonpartisan Douglas McCullough 295,619 15.21%
Nonpartisan Chris Dillon 201,870 10.39%
Nonpartisan Anne Middleton 174,556 8.98%
Nonpartisan Daniel E. Garner 153,971 7.92%
Nonpartisan Jewel Ann Farlow 151,747 7.81%
Nonpartisan Harry Payne 99,257 5.11%
Nonpartisan Stan Hammer 96,451 4.96%
Nonpartisan Mark E. Klass 90,526 4.66%
Nonpartisan Pamela M. Vesper 90,116 4.64%
Nonpartisan John F. Bloss 78,857 4.06%
Nonpartisan John Sullivan 69,971 3.60%
Nonpartisan J. Wesley Casteen 45,610 2.35%
Total votes 1,943,771 100%
North Carolina Court of Appeals (Wynn seat) election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Douglas McCullough 543,980 50.31%
Nonpartisan Cressie Thigpen (incumbent) 537,325 49.69%
Total votes 1,081,305 100%

2008

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North Carolina Court of Appeals (McCullough seat) election, 2008[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Cheri Beasley 1,706,132 57.42%
Nonpartisan Douglas McCullough (incumbent) 1,265,378 42.58%
Total votes 2,971,510 100%

2000

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North Carolina Court of Appeals (Horton seat) election, 2000[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Douglas McCullough 1,371,798 50.32%
Democratic Clarence E. Horton Jr. (incumbent) 1,354,543 49.68%
Total votes 2,726,341 100%
Republican gain from Democratic


References

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  1. ^ Governor Cooper Appoints Judge John Arrowood to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
  2. ^ "Official Results by County for General Election of the State of North Carolina". Archived from the original on 2007-06-16. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  3. ^ Judge DWI Plea, April 3, 2007
  4. ^ McCullough kicks off campaign | newsobserver.com projects Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Judges should be independent, not partisan" : Off the Record : Blogs : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina Archived November 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ YouTube – Broadcast Yourself
  7. ^ Edmunds: Not prejudging cases | newsobserver.com projects Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Ethics complaint filed against McCullough | newsobserver.com projects Archived September 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ McCullough won't face punishment | newsobserver.com projects Archived September 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ State Board of Elections: 2008 general election results
  11. ^ News & Observer: State Appeals Court races show split[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ News & Observer: Thigpen concedes after still behind in NC recount[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "11/02/2010 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results - Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "Court of Appeals Judge". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 28 November 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
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Legal offices
Preceded by
Clarence Horton
Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
2001–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
2011–2017
Succeeded by