1st Black woman elected to NC Superior Court seat dies at 71

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Retired Mecklenburg County Choose Shirley Fulton, who made historical past as the primary Black lady elected to a Superior Court docket seat in North Carolina, died on Wednesday at age 71.

Fulton died at a Charlotte rehabilitation middle from problems associated to gall bladder most cancers, in line with Noell Tin, who was a regulation companion with Fulton.

A South Carolina native who graduated from Duke College regulation college, Fulton labored as an assistant Mecklenburg County prosecutor earlier than being appointed in 1987 to a District Court docket decide seat. She was elected to Superior Court docket in 1988, and served later as a senior resident Superior Court docket decide.

Fulton left the bench within the early 2000s and went into non-public apply. She grew to become a founding companion of the regulation agency referred to as Tin Fulton, Walker and Owen. She was deeply concerned within the Charlotte neighborhood, together with courtroom reforms, public housing and faculties, in line with The Charlotte Observer, which first reported her demise.

“A number of folks will keep in mind Shirley as a trailblazer, however her legacy goes to be the entire contributions that she made to enhance the neighborhood,” Tin stated in an interview.

Tin stated Fulton’s funeral service is Sunday at Johnson C. Smith College.