Mark Martin, NC Supreme Court Chief Justice

Reflections of a Chief Justice

Mark Martin the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina is currently in his 25^th year of judicial service. Martin is the only active member of the state judiciary with experience on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court. In November 1998 Martin was elected at age 35 as the youngest NC Supreme Court Justice in history and he has now served 20 years.

Martin learned the value of public service from his parents, Colonel M. Dean Martin USAF and Ann Martin a school teacher. He graduated summa cum laude from Western Carolina University, followed by a Juris Doctor with honors from UNC Law School and a Master of laws (LL.M.) in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia.

Martin has served in a number of leadership roles within the North Carolina Bar Association, including as its Vice-President and as a member of its Litigation Section Council, Judicial Independence Committee, and Strategic Planning and Emerging Trends Committee. He has taught law courses at the University of North Carolina, Duke University, and North Carolina Central University. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors for the Carolina Law Alumni Association and the Wake County Bar Association.

Chief Justice Martin is dedicated to strengthening and advancing the rule of law. He is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian award in North Carolina. In November 2011, he was inducted into the Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts.

Mark is married to Kim Lake Martin, who grew up in Greensboro and graduated from Grimsley High School.