Robert Harding Gilmore

Robert H. Gilmore is a sitting Sampson County District Court Judge who has entered the 2026 race for North Carolina Superior Court Judge in Judicial District 5 as a Republican candidate. The Superior Court seat, covering Duplin, Sampson, Jones and Onslow counties, requires a jurist with "legal skill, humility, diligence, compassion" and the ability to uphold high ethical standards and public trust, as described by the outgoing judge who endorsed Gilmore ¹⁰.

Gilmore was born in the Keener community of Sampson County and graduated from Hobbton High School. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, graduating as valedictorian ¹⁰. Prior to his judicial service, Gilmore practiced law in Clinton, North Carolina, and served as a prosecutor handling serious felony cases, including murder, rape, and armed robbery ¹⁰.

In 2020, Gilmore was elected to the Sampson County District Court, where he has presided over cases in District 5. His tenure on the bench has been highlighted by a focus on fairness, professionalism, and dedication to the law, qualities praised by District 5 Superior Court Judge Henry L. Stevens IV, who announced his retirement and endorsed Gilmore for the Superior Court seat ¹⁰¹¹.

Gilmore’s campaign platform emphasizes maintaining high ethical standards, treating every individual with respect, ensuring victims’ voices are heard, providing access to the courts, and collaborating with court staff, attorneys, and the community to foster public trust in the judiciary ¹⁰. He has positioned his experience as a prosecutor and district judge as preparation for the broader responsibilities of a Superior Court judge, which include presiding over major civil and criminal matters across the four‑county district.

Financial disclosures filed with Transparency USA show Gilmore’s campaign has raised $22,090 and spent $4,102, with top contributors including Bryon Smith and Kevin Joseph Kiernan, each giving $5,000 ¹². The campaign’s online presence includes a Facebook page, "Robert Gilmore for Judge," which serves as a primary outreach venue for voters ⁹.

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