Robert C. Ervin

Robert C. Ervin is a North Carolina Superior Court judge who has presided over numerous high-profile cases. He is the grandson of U.S. Senator Sam J. Ervin, the son of U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Sam J. Ervin III and the brother of state Supreme Court Justice Sam J. Ervin IV.[1]

Early life and education

Ervin is a native of Morganton, North Carolina and graduated from Freedom High School. He went on to graduate from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982, and from Harvard Law School with a juris doctor degree in 1985. He was admitted to the bar in North Carolina in 1985.[2]

Career

After practicing law in Charlotte for several years, Ervin joined the Morganton law firm that became known as Byrd, Byrd, Ervin, Whisnant, McMahon and Ervin. He practiced with that firm from 1988 until shortly after he was elected to an eight-year term as a Superior Court judge by voters in District 25A (Burke and Caldwell counties) in 2002.[3]

The North Carolina Advocates for Justice named Ervin "Outstanding Trial Judge of the Year" in 2008. He also was appointed by the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court to serve on the Indigent Defense Services Commission and the Rural Courts Commission.[3]

In 2009, Ervin was one of three candidates recommended by U.S. Senator Kay Hagan to the President for appointment as a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.[4] The appointment eventually went to Max O. Cogburn Jr.

Ervin and fellow District 25A Superior Court Judge Beverly Beal were re-elected without opposition in 2010.[5] His current term expires in 2018.[6]

Among his most notable cases has been the trial of police officer Randall Kerrick for the shooting of Jonathan Ferrell.[7] The case ended in a mistrial.[8] He also presided over legal proceedings regarding the control of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He handled the case in which Bruton Smith sued Cabarrus County over economic incentives.[1] The Charlotte Observer wrote that Ervin is "well-known...for his calm bench demeanor."[7]

In 2007, Ervin ordered a new trial for death row inmate Glen Edward Chapman, finding that "law enforcement officials withheld evidence, used false testimony, and misplaced or destroyed important documents that could have supported Chapman's innocence claim."[9] Chapman was eventually freed after his murder charges were dismissed.[10][11]

Ervin dismissed a 2016 suit filed by two former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student-athletes against the university, alleging fraud in connection with "bogus" classes (see "University of North Carolina academic-athletic scandal").[12]

Personal life

Ervin and his wife, Dana Miller Ervin, have two daughters. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Morganton and is the former president of Habitat for Humanity of Burke County.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Charlotte Observer: Inside Courtroom 5370: The legal drama begins Monday (August 3, 2015).
  2. ↑ Martindale profile
  3. 1 2 3 Morganton News-Herald: Judge Ervin will seek re-election to the bench (Feb. 8, 2010).
  4. ↑ Morganton News-Herald: Ervin up for federal judge position (Oct. 18, 2009).
  5. ↑ NC State Board of Elections: Official Election Results from November 2, 2010
  6. ↑ Ballotpedia profile
  7. 1 2 Charlotte Observer: Trial date and judge picked for Charlotte police shooting trial (Jan. 20, 2015).
  8. ↑ CBS News: Jury deadlocked in North Carolina officer shooting trial; mistrial declared (Aug. 21, 2015).
  9. ↑ Death Penalty Information Center
  10. ↑ WRAL: Death Row Inmate Freed After 15 Years
  11. ↑ NCCADP: Glen Edward Chapman
  12. ↑ ABC11: Judge dismisses former UNC athletes' lawsuit against the university's 'bogus classes' (Feb. 19, 2016).
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