John Stanley Arrowood

John Stanley Arrowood is the incumbent judge for Seat 1 of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election as a Democrat ¹. The Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court, tasked with reviewing decisions from trial courts and certain administrative agencies to ensure correct application of law and procedural fairness ¹. Judges on this court must be licensed attorneys, possess substantial legal experience, and demonstrate impartiality and sound judgment; they serve eight‑year terms and are elected on a statewide ballot ¹.

Arrowood was born in Burnsville, North Carolina, and grew up in Yancey County before moving to Lenoir after his parents’ deaths at age fifteen ³. He earned a B.A., magna cum laude, from Catawba College in 1979, receiving the Whitener Award for leadership, scholarship, and service ¹¹. He then obtained his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982 ³.

His legal career spans more than four decades. After serving as a research assistant and staff attorney for the Court of Appeals in the 1980s ³, Arrowood entered private practice with James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A., first as an associate (1989‑2007) and later as a partner (2009‑2017) ³¹. He was appointed a Special Superior Court Judge in 2007 ³ and first served on the Court of Appeals from 2007‑2008, appointed by Governor Mike Easley ¹³. Governor Roy Cooper re‑appointed him in 2017, and he was elected to a full term in 2018, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected to statewide office in North Carolina ¹²¹. He was re‑elected in 2022 and is now completing a term that ends December 31, 2026 ¹.

Beyond the bench, Arrowood has held numerous public‑service roles: member of the North Carolina Railroad Board (2001‑2007), Arts Council (2003‑2007), Banking Commission (1995‑2001), Rules Review Commission (1999‑2001), and Election Law Review Commission (1994‑1995) ³. He serves on the Mint Museum of Art Board of Trustees and the Charlotte Center for Urban Ministries board, and is active in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where he has chaired outreach commissions ³¹¹. He is an American Arbitration Association‑accredited arbitrator and certified mediator ¹¹.

In his judicial work, Arrowood has authored over 100 appellate opinions, emphasizing clear, timely, and well‑reasoned decisions ⁷. He has been endorsed by labor and environmental groups such as the NC AFL‑CIO, Sierra Club North Carolina, and Bull City Anna ¹. His campaign platform stresses impartial administration of justice, equal treatment of litigants, and maintaining the independence of the judiciary ⁷¹⁰. Arrowood’s re‑election bid is supported by the North Carolina Democratic Party’s “Judicial Spotlight” series, which highlights his experience and commitment to fairness ¹⁰.

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