RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Former North Carolina state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr is returning to the mountains to become district attorney for five western counties until a new DA is elected in November.
Gov. Pat McCrory announced Tuesday he appointed Orr to succeed DA Jerry Wilson, who resigned effective March 31 due to medical issues. Wilson prosecuted Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties.
Orr served on the state’s highest court for 10 years and eight years previously on the Court of Appeals. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor in 2008, finishing fourth to McCrory.
Orr previously worked in Asheville and was the Buncombe County GOP chairman. McCrory’s office says Orr is taking a leave of absence from his Raleigh law firm while serving as DA.
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