{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Roy Wijewickrama","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Roy Thilak Wijewickrama is a Democratic\u2011affiliated jurist currently serving as a Superior Court Judge for Judicial District 43B, which covers Haywood and Jackson counties in North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper appointed him to the position in November 2024 to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Brad Letts [4][5].\n\nWijewickrama earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland\u2011Marshall College of Law (Cleveland State University) [1][4]. After law school he worked as an assistant district attorney for the 30th Judicial District, then spent a year in private practice with the firm Kersten, Davis & Wijewickrama. In 2008 he was appointed tribal prosecutor for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by Chief Mitchell Hicks [1][10].\n\nHe was first elected to the North Carolina District Court in 2010, defeating Stephen G. Ellis with 53.88% of the vote and receiving an endorsement from the North Carolina Democratic Party despite the nonpartisan nature of judicial elections [1]. He was re\u2011elected unopposed in 2014, serving the 30th Judicial District, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties [1]. In January 2021 Chief Justice Cheri Beasley appointed him chief district court judge for Judicial District 30, overseeing the same seven\u2011county region [10][12].\n\nAs chief district judge, Wijewickrama has overseen a broad docket of civil and criminal matters and has been recognized for his deep knowledge of the local communities he serves. His 2024 appointment to the Superior Court expands his jurisdiction to the higher trial court level, where he will preside over felony criminal cases, civil disputes exceeding $25,000, and appeals from district courts [4][5].\n\nThroughout his career, Wijewickrama has combined prosecutorial experience, private\u2011practice insight, and judicial leadership, positioning him as a seasoned figure in North Carolina\u2019s legal system.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Roy Wijewickrama - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Roy_Wijewickrama)\n- [4] [Governor Cooper Announces Superior Court Appointment | NC Governor](https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/11/14/governor-cooper-announces-superior-court-appointment)\n- [5] [Governor Cooper Appoints Superior Court Judge for Haywood and Jackson Counties | North Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.nccourts.gov/news/tag/general-news/governor-cooper-appoints-superior-court-judge-for-haywood-and-jackson-counties)\n- [10] [Roy Wijewickrama appointed as chief district judge for Judicial District 30 | Mountain Xpress](https://mountainx.com/blogwire/roy-wijewickrama-appointed-as-chief-district-judge-for-judicial-district-30/)\n- [12] [Wijewickrama appointed to serve as chief district court judge | News | themountaineer.com](https://www.themountaineer.com/news/wijewickrama-appointed-to-serve-as-chief-district-court-judge/article_9cb2d89e-4f89-11eb-928b-5f7966bf3f28.html)","firstname":"Roy","lastname":"Wijewickrama","middlename":"Thilak","suffix":null,"token":"009db495e82fb768"},"token":"Dh6yNHy_t08A21QJ"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":null,"o.office":"superior_court_judge","office":"superior_court_judge","officedescription":"In North Carolina, a superior court judge presides over the general-jurisdiction trial court \u2014 felony criminal cases and civil cases above the district-court limit \u2014 riding a rotation among the counties of the judicial district. Decisions are subject to appellate review.","officequalities":"- Trial-court judge of general civil and criminal jurisdiction \u2014 presides over jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, and felony sentencing.\n- Judicial temperament: the willingness to listen, deliberate, and apply the law dispassionately to people whose lives are deeply affected by the outcome.\n- Impartiality and ethics under the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct, including recusal when conflicts arise.\n- Working knowledge of the substantive and procedural law that controls, and the published precedent.\n- Docket management across a rotating district while honoring due process.\n- Clear written and oral explanation of rulings, so the parties and the public can follow the reasoning.","officeterm":8,"officetitle":"Superior Court Judge","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc Superior Court Judge District 43B Seat 01"}