Why? According to North Carolina’s Code of Judicial Conduct, it is permissible political conduct for a judge or candidate to “personally solicit campaign funds and request public support from anyone for his own campaign” or to allow others to do so for him. According to this rule, a sitting judge or candidate running for judge is free to accept hundreds or even thousands of dollars in donations from local attorneys and other special interests who appear in that judge’s courtroom.
This flies in the face of other fundamental and more important canons of judicial ethics, namely that: 1) a judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary; 2) a judge should avoid impropriety in all his activities; and 3) a judge should perform the duties of his office impartially and diligently.
The purpose of these canons is self-evident. Judges are central to our democracy. They resolve disputes between people peacefully and fairly. They protect citizens from the power of the government, and they apply the law to protect or punish people.
In order perform these functions impartially and independently, a judge’s decisions should not follow public opinion, or promote special interests. How much faith would you have in a judicial proceeding if you knew that the opposing attorney donated $500.00 or $1000.00 to get the judge who is deciding the outcome of your case elected to the bench? And every judge must know where every penny raised during a campaign comes from, as required by Board of Election Regulations. He or she cannot claim ignorance of the source and amount of campaign funding.
This is why Dr. Storch is not soliciting, personally or indirectly through his campaign committee, any cash contributions even though North Carolina law says it’s perfectly fine.
Some judges and candidates have spent as much as $32,000.00 in recent elections to get elected as district court judge. That’s almost 1/3 of a district court judge’s annual salary! Steven Storch has vowed to spend his own money to get elected. But let one thing be clear, he is not going to try to pull a Ross Perot and spend a small fortune of his own money in an attempt to buy the election. On the contrary, his campaign is registered with the State Board of Elections as a Threshold Campaign. This means that Dr. Storch has certified to the State Board of Elections that during the entire election cycle he will neither raise nor spend more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) to further the candidate’s campaign. This certification is made on the Certification of Threshold form (CRO-3600) which is on file as a public record.
Isn’t he dooming himself to failure by not raising and spending all the money he can? After all, isn’t advertising necessary? Yes, advertising is necessary. And expensive. And so are campaign managers, and hired help. Just check the campaign expenditures of past candidates. Many candidates have spent more than $10,000.00 per election cycle. Campaign managers, fundraising dinners, printing, can and do cost thousands.
Then how can Storch succeed in getting elected? The answer is simple, he wants to earn your vote, not buy it. He wants to demonstrate his skills and abilities by talking with people, earning their trust and answering their questions and concerns about Durham’s legal system. In short, by direct communication which is the best form of advertisement. Any candidate can have a brochure printed up and bulk mailed or print up a thousand signs and have them put up around the city. But when was the last time a candidate for judge knocked on your front door and talked to you about what matters to you?
If you are a registered voter in Durham, expect Dr. Storch to come knocking on your door sometime in the next 12-18 months. He’ll be asking you for your support. Not in the form of a cash contribution but a signature on a petition to have him added to the 2010 ballot for District Court Judge. He’ll need at least 20,000 signatures and plans to get every one in a door to door petition drive, one at a time. And he might also ask for permission, when election time approaches, to place a campaign sign in your yard.
If you’re not available when he comes to your house, be assured that the red white and blue door hanger hanging on your door knob was left there by him. And feel free to email, call, or write Dr. Storch with any concerns or questions you may have.
A Gentleman and Scholar to Vie for District Court Judge Seat
Durham, North Carolina, July 9, 2008
Dr. Steven R. Storch, current Durham County assistant district attorney is getting his campaign set for the 2010 election year.
“Doctor,” as some who work with attorney Storch call him, isn’t a medical doctor but a former professor of philosophy turned attorney 5 years ago. “It’s not a title I wear on my sleeve,” says Storch. “Most people don’t know of my academic background and I don’t usually mention it. Gloating is something I teach my children not to do, so I don’t talk about past academic achievements in general conversations.”
So why mention it now? “My doctorate in philosophy is one factor that got me hired with the district attorney’s office last year, just after the accusations of impropriety came to a head with the Duke Lacrosse Case. My area of specialization within philosophy is ethics, and I’ve got 18 years of university research and teaching experience. Couple my 5 years experience in civil and criminal law with my extensive professional academic background and you’ve got the perfect set of qualifications for a judge.”
The next election will be the primary in the spring of 2010, which is only 22 months away. Rather than pay the simple $1,000 filing fee as most candidates do, Dr. Storch will launch an old fashioned signature petition to get his name on the ballot. “There are over one hundred and fifty thousand registered voters in Durham County and I plan on getting as many of their signatures as possible. It will not only get me on the ballot for the primary election but will give me a chance to meet each voter personally and find out what he or she thinks about our court system.”
Why the move from the District Attorney’s office to the Bench?
“I love working as a prosecutor. It allows me to do more than talk about justice in the classroom. Now I can have a positive effect on people’s lives by carrying out justice in the courtroom. But to fulfill that function as a judge would make the greatest use of my skills for public service. And I would carry out that task with the highest degree of integrity and honor.”
This site is currently under construction (June 28, 2008) and there will be plenty of great content, links, and features to come.
Please stay tuned and visit back often.
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About the Author: Steven Storch is an assistant district attorney in Durham County, NC and the sole author of this web site. Any and all credit or blame for its content should be attributed to him.
Homo Universalis