A Q&A with North Carolina's next Chief Justice.

Byline: Bill Cresenzo

Earlier this month, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley will be the court's next chief justice, making her the first African-American woman to serve as chief justice in the 200-year history of the state's highest court.

Beasley recently sat down with Lawyers Weekly reporter Bill Cresenzo, in the courtroom she will soon preside over, to talk about the court, its future, and her new role in the state's judiciary. The following is a transcript of that conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity.

How did you find out that you were appointed, and what was your reaction to getting the news?

I received a call and met with the governor, who later made a public announcement. I was absolutely elated, and I am honored he has placed his trust and confidence in my abilities to serve as chief justice.

As the new chief justice, what new initiatives or priorities are you looking to implement or advance that are important to you personally?

For now, I am really excited about leading the court and the Judicial Branch and making sure I provide support for the wonderful trial judges that we have, the elected clerks, and the public defenders and district attorneys and magistrates and others folks who are stakeholders in our Judicial Branch, and making sure that we have a great relationship with the legislature and with all of the branches of government to make sure we are serving the people of North Carolina the way we should be.

What are the greatest challenges and issues that the judiciary is facing right now, or you think you will be facing in the near future, that are going to require your leadership in this position to address?

All of the cases that come before the court are very important. The cases present very important issues, not just for parties that come before the court, but for the state of North Carolina. We are a growing state, and our caseloads are growing and our resources are stretched. We have remarkable people who are serving in our courts and who are doing the very best they can. They are doing a remarkable job with limited resources. We will find ways to work through these challenges, and I am looking forward to working with a lot of folks who are doing the work every day and will necessarily need to be a part of the solutions.

I know you and current Chief Justice Mark Martin have been working very closely to ensure a smooth transition. What have you learned from...