Grant Buckner, a 2013 graduate of Elon Law, will now serve as the top executive position for the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Buckner was appointed as the 17th clerk of court by Chief Justice Paul Newby and will step into the role in February, taking over from former clerk Amy Funderburk.
Buckner has served within the Supreme Court since his graduation, from providing legal counsel and drafting rule amendments to his role as clerk for Robert N. Hunter Jr. at the North Carolina Court of Appeals and for former Supreme Court of North Carolina Chief Justice Mark Martin.
“Serving the Supreme Court of North Carolina is a great honor and privilege for me,” Buckner said in a press release. “The history, the people, and the work inspire me every day. I am so grateful the Court has entrusted me to be its next Clerk of Court, and I look forward to doing my very best in this new role.”
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s highest court, which means cases sent to the Supreme Court of North Carolina have no ability to appeal from the decisions made over matters of state law. The court is made up of the Chief Justice, Newby, and six additional associate justices. Newby serves as the head of the judicial branch and the six associate justices each serve an eight-year term.
In his new role, Buckner will manage evidence related to cases filed with the Supreme Court, develop and execute plans for Supreme Court outreach efforts, and oversee the operations of archiving records, among many duties. The clerk of court role was established by the first US Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which also includes two other non-judge positions. The duties of his role at the state level are written in the North Carolina General Statutes.
“We look forward to working with Grant in his new capacity as clerk,” Newby said in a press release. “I am confident he will continue to serve the Supreme Court and North Carolinians with the same fervor he has demonstrated in his previous roles.”