Baker on the Bench

Thanks again to the Kiwanis Club for hosting a wonderful community breakfast to kick off the Apple Festival weekend. I'm looking forward to Day Two and hope to meet as many people as possible. If you're attending, look for me and my team--we'd love to say hello and learn what's important to you!

And the Apple Festival is officially on! It was great to enjoy the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at First Methodist Church and to visit the Apple Festival for lunch today. Fingers crossed that the weather remains sunny. Hope to see you over the weekend.

Look for me and my team at the Apple Festival this weekend! I'm looking forward to everything, but especially the King Apple Parade. And I'm always excited to meet folks from Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties, which make up the 42nd NC Judicial District that I serve. I am working hard to earn your vote to build on my experience and I'd love to hear from you. Have a fun and safe Apple Festival/Labor Day Weekend!

It's hard to believe that it's almost time for the Apple Festival! What's your favorite part? The apple cider slushies? The carnival rides? The candy apples? The cool crafts? The King Apple Parade? It's a hard choice, but I plan to be there throughout the weekend and do as much as possible. I also hope to meet as many people as possible! Keep watching this space and I will let you know where I will be in the parade lineup. I'm really looking forward to it.

Since being appointed last year, I have enjoyed serving as a district court judge and learning about the wonderful communities in Polk, Transylvania and Henderson Counties. I strive to treat everyone who comes in front of me with fairness, respect and careful attention to the law. I would be honored to have your vote so I can continue the important work I’ve been doing and build on what I’ve learned. Please learn more on my website: www.bakeronthebench.org

Could this weekend have been more beautiful? I really enjoyed being outside and talking with folks in Brevard. As a judicial candidate, I can't comment on specific political issues because I follow the guidelines of the Judicial Standards Commission. I do value learning about issues that are important to the people, and I make an effort to hear from folks in all three counties. If I don't get to meet you in person, you can also contact me via my website: www.bakeronthebench.org

Are you registered to vote? This weekend is a great time to register to vote to make sure you're ready for the November election. The NC State Board of Elections has wonderful resources about voting, including information about new voting laws.

If you are eligible and not yet registered to vote, you can register online, in person at the DMV or through the mail. More info: bit.ly/43yjU9p

A friendly reminder that Judges’ Races are important! A district court judge can have a more noticeable day-to-day impact on people’s lives than many politicians. A judge’s temperament and values matter a great deal to the people before them. It’s easy to forget how many people’s lives are affected by district judges. I encourage everyone to learn about the judicial races that will be on the ballot. It takes time, but it is definitely time well spent. Learn more about my approach to being a judge on my ABOUT page: https://www.bakeronthebench.org/about-3

Some people ask why I am running as unaffiliated when it is so much more difficult. I’ve been unaffiliated for 15 years. It’s not something that I just decided to do. It works well for me and I believe all judges should at least strive to look past partisanship and have an unaffiliated perspective because politics has no place in the courtroom. Read more about my judicial philosophy on my website. www.bakeronthebench.org

It's been a busy week! I'm hoping for a little down time with these troopers over the weekend. Running for office involves a lot of long days and busy evenings, which makes fun family moments like this especially sweet.

I’d like to give a shout out to all the great clerks, bailiffs and other court staff in Polk, Transylvania and Henderson (whose classically inspired courthouse is pictured here). They play an essential role in our justice system, and it’s been fun getting to know them in all three counties.

It's exciting to see more and more campaign signs out in the real world! I will always be grateful to the local businesses, groups, churches and individuals who helped gather more than 2700 signatures for me to get on the ballot as an Unaffiliated candidate. It was truly a grassroots effort. Running without being affiliated with a political party is difficult, but I think it is worth the effort because I believe politics have no place in the courtroom.

I feel very strongly about rights and civil liberties. I care about the constitution—both the US constitution and the NC constitution--and I believe that the essential role of a judge is to ensure the fair administration of justice. Politics has no place in the courtroom, and that is why I am unaffiliated, unbiased, and uncompromised. I invite you to learn more about my judicial philosophy on my website. www.bakeronthebench.org

Best wishes to our amazing students and educators as they start or prepare for a new school year! As the parent of two school children and as the daughter of educators, I appreciate all our teachers. It's hard to believe that today is the first day of school for public school students here in Polk County and Henderson County, and Transylvania County will be starting soon. It's one of my favorite times of year.

Before being appointed as a district court judge, I practiced law for 15 years, trying every type of case that a district court judge would hear. That experience has proven immensely helpful to me in a fast-paced courtroom environment. I have learned even more during my time on the bench and I'm eager to build on that experience, too. I invite you to learn more about my background on the ABOUT page of my website: https://www.bakeronthebench.org/about-3

Many thanks to this team and everyone who is helping those affected by the hurricane! It is wonderful to live and work here in the mountains, where we have so many folks who are eager to assist in times of need.

**Update from the Henderson County Technical Rescue Team**
Our team has moved from Bladen County to Cumberland County to cover two areas that do not have the equipment for flood responses and were cut off during Hurricane Florence. Tropical Storm Debby brought heavy rains and severe weather overnight with heavy rain expected most of the day on Thursday. Keep our team in your thoughts and prayers as they assist our neighbors down East.

For me, working in family law has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a judge. It's all about helping these little people find their way and being an advocate for their best interests. I've enjoyed learning about the many different family resources in Henderson, Polk & Transylvania Counties, and I hope to build on this experience when I serve a full term as District Court Judge. Learn more about my background and judicial philosophy at www.bakeronthebench.org

Henderson, Polk & Transylvania Counties make up the 42nd NC Judicial District, which I serve as a District Court Judge. In politics, the judicial races for District Court don't get a lot of attention, but I've found they can have a bigger impact on the day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens than people realize. A judge’s temperament and values matter a great deal to the people appearing before them. I strongly encourage everyone to learn about the candidates running for these important races. And if you'd like more information about North Carolina's courts, please visit www.nccourts.gov

Last fall, I was honored to be appointed as a District Court Judge serving Henderson, Polk & Transylvania Counties. Now, I’m excited to run for a full term. I have always tried my best to treat everyone who comes into the courtroom with fairness, and I promise to keep doing just that. I strive to apply the law to the facts, nothing more, nothing less. Please visit my website to learn more -->> www.bakeronthebench.org

It was a pleasure to welcome Chief Justice Newby to Transylvania County this afternoon.

We survived our first day of Ecourts! I left court at 7:15 pm, but that's better than the 9:00 pm time I was expecting! We got this y'all!

Thank you to our clerks and administrative staff that have worked so hard the last many weeks to ensure today goes well. You are so appreciated! Here's to our new "Odyssey" into Ecourts!

We are ordering signs!! Let me know how many you want and where to deliver! Thank you for your support!

Political violence has no place in this country. Praying for President Trump and America.

Come see me at the Fabulous Fourth in Columbus! Happy 4th of July!

Excited to share my website: bakeronthebench.org!

Home | Baker On The Bench Keep politics out of the courtroom. Keep Judge Lora T. Baker on the Bench. Serving Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties for over 15 years.

I got a shout-out at the Judge's Conference!