RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The North Carolina Chamber's political action committee has made an unusual move by endorsing a sitting state Supreme Court justice for re-election.
The chamber announced Tuesday the PAC's endorsement of Associate Justice Paul Newby, who is being challenged this fall by Court of Appeals Judge Sam Ervin IV.
Chamber chief executive Lew Ebert said the PAC usually doesn't endorse candidates for statewide office but is standing up on this race because of what he calls Newby's reputation for impartiality and understanding of economic matters related to cases involving job creators.
The Supreme Court race is officially nonpartisan. Newby is a registered Republican and Ervin is a Democrat.
The PAC also announced more than 25 endorsements in legislative races, most of them Republican.
