Robert C. (Bob) Hunter (born 14 January 1944) is an American jurist, currently a Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Hunter, born in Marion, North Carolina, earned a degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1966 before earning his Juris Doctor degree from the same institution in 1969. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, he became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega. After earning his degree, Hunter worked as a county attorney in McDowell County, North Carolina. He also represented the 49th District in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1980 to 1998. Significant legislation passed during his tenure included the Highway Trust Fund, NC Victims' Bill of Rights, NC Victims' Compensation Fund, and the establishment of Lake James State Park.
In 1998, Hunter was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt to the state Court of Appeals, and he was elected to an eight-year term on the court that same year. In 2006, Hunter was the top vote-getter in the state's non-partisan primary on May 2, thus advancing to the November general election. Winning 99 of 100 counties, he defeated Kris Bailey in that election to win another eight-year term. As one of the most senior judges on the Court of Appeals, as of 2010, Hunter has decided over 3,500 appellate cases, authoring over 1000 opinions.
Hunter has been active in community and nonprofit organizations. He is a board member of both the N.C. Healthy Start Foundation, and Southmountain Children's Services, and he is a member of the Rotary Club of Raleigh, McDowell Economic Development Association, and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce.
Hunter is currently running for the North Carolina Supreme Court.[1] In the nonpartisan race, Hunter has been endorsed by the Charlotte Observer,[2] the Greensboro News-Record,[3] the Greenville Reflector,[4] the Asheville Citizen-Times, the Wilmington Star-News[5] and The News & Observer.[6]
He is married and has two children.