Patricia Timmons-Goodson

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 22, 2008 - 2:52pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
Supreme Court Justice Statewide Incumbent
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2006 2014
Level of Government  
N.C. Supreme Court  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
September 18, 1954 Florence, SC Fayetteville, NC

Synopsis

Patricia Timmons-Goodson is an associate justice on the N.C. Supreme Court. The daughter of a U.S. Army officer, she was raised on military bases in the United States and Europe. After working as a private attorney, she was appointed a District Court judge in 1984, then elected three times. In 1997, she was appointed to the N.C. Court of Appeals, retiring in 2005. The following year, Gov. Mike Easley appointed her to the Supreme Court, making her the first black woman in that position. She was elected to the seat later that year. She is considered a potential nominee to a federal judgeship. 

Trivia

She co-hosted a TV program called "Dimensions of Justice" for 12 years. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Dr. Ernest Goodson
Children
Two sons

Patricia Timmons-Goodson is an associate justice on the N.C. Supreme Court and the first black woman to serve on the court.

Early Life and Education

Patricia Timmons was born Sept. 18, 1954, in Florence, S.C., to Beulah and Edward Timmons.

Her father was a U.S. Army officer who attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. 

She was raised on military bases in the United States and Europe, graduating from Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville in 1972.

She is the oldest of six children, all of whom have professional or master's degrees. 

She earned a bachelor of arts in speech from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1976. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

She then earned a law degree from UNC in 1979.

Professional Career

After law school, Timmons-Goodson worked as a district manager for the 1980 U.S. Census.

From 1981 to 1983, Timmons-Goodson worked as an assistant district attorney in the 12th District in Cumberland County.

From 1983 to 1984, she served as a staff attorney for Lumbee River Legal Serivces in Fayetteville. 

In September of 1984, Gov. Jim Hunt appointed her a District Court judge in the 12th District. She was elected as a Democrat in 1986 and re-elected without opposition in 1990 and 1994.

In 1997, Governor Hunt appointed her to the N.C. Court of Appeals. She retired from that position in late 2005.

On Jan. 19, 2006, Gov. Mike Easley announced he was appointing her to the N.C. Supreme Court to replace Associate Justice Sarah Parker, who became chief justice. She was the first black woman to serve on the court.

In November of that year, she defeated then-N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Eric Levinson for an eight-year term. The race was officially nonpartisan, although Democrats backed Timmons-Goodson and Republicans Levinson.

She is considered to be a potential nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals' Fourth Circuit or even the U.S. Supreme Court under President Barack Obama.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Associate Justice
N.C. Supreme Court





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education

bachelor of arts
UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1976		 juris doctorate
UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1979

Military

Not specified.

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