Carolina Journal reports on Phil Berger Jr.’s interest in running for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court. He is the son of state Senate leader, Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.

Phil Berger Jr., son of state Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, is interested in running for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.

On Monday, Jan. 28, Berger Jr. announced on Facebook his interest in running for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court in 2020, when Senior Associate Justice Paul Newby’s term ends. Newby has indicated he plans to run for the chief justice’s seat, which will be open in 2020 because Chief Justice Mark Martin will retire at the end of February. Martin’s successor would have to run in 2020 for a full term on the court.

Berger Jr. now sits on the N.C. Court of Appeals. In 2016 he defeated incumbent Judge Linda Stephens. His term doesn’t end until 2024. Before that, he was the district attorney in Rockingham County.

“If you think we need a conservative justice on the Supreme Court who is dedicated to the Constitution and the people of this State, please let me know,” Berger Jr. posted on his Facebook page.

The announcement comes a few days after Martin announced his retirement. Martin plans to leave the court to become the dean of Regent University’s law school in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Read more here.