Karen Elise Eady-Williams

Karen Elise Eady-Williams is the incumbent Superior Court judge for Judicial District 26F of the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election as the Democratic nominee【1】. The position is an elected eight‑year term on the state’s trial court, which handles civil and criminal matters and requires the judge to be a licensed North Carolina attorney.

Eady‑Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1992【1】. She began her legal career as an assistant public defender in the 26th Judicial District, then served as an assistant United States attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Prior to entering the judiciary she was vice president and assistant general counsel for Wachovia Corp【1】.

In 2010 she was appointed by Governor Pat Perdue to the North Carolina 26th Judicial District Court, filling the remainder of a term left vacant by Judge Bill Belk【2】. She served on the district bench until her appointment to the Superior Court in 2017, taking office on January 1, 2019. Her initial Superior Court seat was in the Seventh Division (District 26A) but was reassigned to the Fifth Division after legislative redistricting in 2018【1】. She was elected without opposition in 2016 and won a full eight‑year term in 2018 with 100 % of the vote【1】.

Eady‑Williams’ current term runs until December 31, 2026, and she is on the ballot for re‑election in 2026. The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026 was cancelled, automatically advancing her to the general election, and the Republican primary was likewise cancelled【1】. She will seek another eight‑year term on the bench.

During her tenure she has issued rulings that attracted political attention, including a temporary restraining order in the summer of 2023 that limited the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department’s use of chemical agents against protesters. The order led to threats against her and was highlighted by the North Carolina Republican Party in a mailer that portrayed her as a “radical” judge, a claim the Democratic Party condemned as a racist dog‑whistle【10】. These actions illustrate the judicial and public‑policy issues that can arise in a Superior Court judge’s work.

Sources