Birth

Born to Augustus and Zola Elizabeth Smith Parker, Charlotte, North Carolina, August 23, 1942

Education

Public Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (Graduated Garinger High School 1960)

Meredith College 1960-1962

UNC- CH 1962-1964; BA Education

UNC- CH School of Law 1966-1969; JD

Career

Admitted to the North Carolina Bar August 15, 1969

Chief Justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina, February 1, 2006 through August 31, 2014

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina, January 11, 1993 through January 31, 2006

Judge, North Carolina Court of Appeals, January 3, 1985 through January 10, 1993

Practicing Attorney, Charlotte, North Carolina, August 15, 1969 through January 2, 1985

US Peace Corps, Ankara, Turkey, June 1964 through June 1966

Memberships

Mecklenburg County Bar

North Carolina Bar Association

North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys

Wake County Bar Association

American Bar Association

Fellow American Bar Foundation

American Law Institute

Susie Sharp Inn of Court

North Caroliniana Society

Christ Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC

Offices, Boards, and Commissions

Member, Board of Visitors UNC-CH Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Member, Board of Trustees Meredith College

Former member, Board of Directors Conference of Chief Justices

Former member, Board of Visitors Campbell University School of Law

Former chair, North Carolina Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism

Former chair, North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission

Former chair, State Judicial Council

Former member, North Carolina Courts Commission

Former Vice President North Carolina Bar Association

Former member, North Carolina Bar Association Commission on the Status of Women

Former officer and executive committee member, Mecklenburg County Bar

Former member, UNC-CH Board of Visitors

Former member, Board of Directors Charlotte YWCA

Founding member Charlotte Women's Political Caucus

Former President, Mecklenburg County Democratic Women

Former member, State Democratic Party Executive Committee

Awards and Recognitions

UNC-Chapel Hill Distinguished Alumnus Award

North Carolina Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Public Service Award

North Carolina State Bar John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award

North Carolina Bar Association Government and Public Sector Section

Grainger Barrett Award For Excellence

Meredith College Woman of Achievement

UNC-CH School of Law Distinguished Alumnus Award

UNC-CH School of Law Lifetime Achievement Award

North Carolina Chief Justice's Professionalism Award

Mecklenburg County Bar Ayscue Professionalism Award

Campbell Law School Robinson o. Everette Award for Legal Excellence

Meredith College Alumnae Association Career Achievement Award

North Carolina Women's Hall of Fame Inductee

North Carolina Women's Commission Distinguished Woman of North Carolina Award

NC Federation of Women's Clubs Woman of Distinction

NC Association of Women Attorneys Gywneth B. Davis Public Service Award

NC Association of Women Attorneys Judge of the Year Award

NC Association of Black County Officials Humanitarian Award

Honorary Doctorates from Queens University of Charlotte, Pfeiffer University,

Greensboro College, and St. Augustine's University

Election History

Appointed judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals by Governor James B. Hunt on December 28, 1984; took oath of office as judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals on January 3, 1985

Stood for election and was elected judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1986 general election (nominated in the 1986 Democratic primary election)

Stood for re-election and was re- elected judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1990 general election

Stood for election and was elected associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina in the 1992 general election for balance of term ending December 31, 1994; took oath of office as associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina on January 11, 1993 (nominated in the 1992 Democratic primary election)

Stood for re-election as associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and was defeated in the 1994 general election

Appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina by Governor James B. Hunt on December 22, 1994; took oath of office as associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina on January 1, 1995

Stood for election and was elected associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina in the 1996 general election

Stood for re-election and was re-elected associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina in the 2004 general election

Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina by Governor Michael Easley on January 18, 2006; took oath of office as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina on February 1, 2006

Stood for election and was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina in the 2006 general election

Served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina through August 31, 2014, when reached mandatory retirement age