District Court Judge Bill Belk poked his finger in the eye of the judicial system again today. The judge, spoiled byproduct of one of the city’s most influential families, has come under fire for serving on corporate boards of directors, even after he was told he would have to resign if he wants to stay on the bench. As he has repeatedly made clear, Belk couldn’t care less about the rules regulating judges’ activities. For instance, he put himself up for re-election to the Sonic Automotive board, after saying the N.C. Code of Judicial Conduct was wrong and that he would continue the Sonic gig because they give him health insurance. Today at the Sonic shareholders’ meeting, Belk was voted to another term on the board. Rumors have it that lawyers in North Carolina have begun a pool in which participants bet on what day Belk will be thrown off the bench.
This article appears in May 5-12, 2009.
