Justice Timmons-Goodson stepping down

The first African-American woman ever to serve on North Carolina’s highest court will be stepping down shortly, allowing outgoing Gov. Beverly Perdue to now make an appointment to the NC Supreme Court before she leaves office Jan. 5th.

Published reports say Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, 58, has filed her papers to step down, and told colleagues on the seven-member court of her departure. She was first appointed to the High Court by then Gov. Mike Easley in 2006, and then won election to an eight-year term later that year. Her term ends in 2014. Timmons-Goodson previously served as a state district court judge and a NC Appellate Court judge.

At press time Wednesday, Gov. Perdue praised Justice Timmons-Goodson for her many years of service to the state and the criminal justice system.