2024 NC General Election

Shamieka is originally from Rocky Mount, NC. Shamieka attended Nash County Public Schools, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in English, and completed her law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law. She currently resides in Durham.

Shamieka was a prosecutor prior to her election.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart was appointed as a superior court judge in 2023. She was also a district court judge, elected in 2017 and serving 2 terms. Previously, she served as a Durham County Board of Education member.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "With over 18 years of service, she continues to demonstrate her trustworthiness and commitment to justice within our court system."

Said, "With over 18 years of service, she continues to demonstrate her trustworthiness and commitment to justice within our court system."

Believes in the importance of legal experience and education, having worked as an associate attorney and assistant district attorney. As a prosecutor, earned leadership roles due to her strong work ethic.

As a former prosecutor, believes in "just outcomes...and justice for victims of crimes."

- Said, "With over 18 years of service, she continues to demonstrate her trustworthiness and commitment to justice within our court system."
- As a former prosecutor, believes in "just outcomes...and justice for victims of crimes."

Legal Experience

Supports dismissing fines for ethical and fair reasons, noting the burden on those unable to pay.

- Supports dismissing fines for ethical and fair reasons, noting the burden on those unable to pay.

Ethics & Conduct

Supports managing court backlogs by holding weekly dismissal dockets for specific groups and offering the DEAR program for license restoration.

Supports managing court backlogs by holding weekly dismissal dockets for specific groups. 

Believes automatic and indefinite license revocation for unpaid fines in North Carolina is unjust without a hearing to assess payment capability.

Believes efficient case management is crucial but highlights the challenge of outdated contact information for notifying individuals about their driver's license reinstatement.

Believes in effective court administration and transparency in judicial decisions. Supports publishing data on judges waiving court costs and implementing workarounds for revenue loss notifications.

To increase transparency, supports publishing data on judges waiving court costs and implementing workarounds for revenue loss notifications

Believes court administration should minimize the burden on individuals with suspended licenses by not requiring their presence for dismissed charges.

Wants to minimize the burden on individuals with suspended licenses by not requiring their presence for dismissed charges.

Plans to launch an online portal to help people check if their charges have been dismissed or are scheduled for dismissal.

Plans to launch an online portal for people to check if their charges have been dismissed or are scheduled for dismissal.

The candidate's website says, "Housed on the sixth floor of the courthouse, the DEAR program is a collaboration between the city of Durham, courts, the NC Justice Center, Legal Aid, NC Equal Access to Justice Commission, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, local law schools, and Code for Durham. Attorneys give clients free help with driver’s license restoration, expungements, and certificates of relief."

Supports collaboration with the Durham Expunction and Restoration  program,  NC Justice Center, Legal Aid, NC Equal Access to Justice Commission, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, local law schools, and Code for Durham to help with driver’s license restoration, expungements, and certificates of relief.

- Supports managing court backlogs by holding weekly dismissal dockets for specific groups. 
- Believes automatic and indefinite license revocation for unpaid fines in North Carolina is unjust without a hearing to assess payment capability.
- Believes efficient case management is crucial but highlights the challenge of outdated contact information for notifying individuals about their driver's license reinstatement.
- To increase transparency, supports publishing data on judges waiving court costs and implementing workarounds for revenue loss notifications
- Wants to minimize the burden on individuals with suspended licenses by not requiring their presence for dismissed charges.
- Plans to launch an online portal for people to check if their charges have been dismissed or are scheduled for dismissal.
- Supports collaboration with the Durham Expunction and Restoration  program,  NC Justice Center, Legal Aid, NC Equal Access to Justice Commission, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, local law schools, and Code for Durham to help with driver’s license restoration, expungements, and certificates of relief.

Judicial Administration

Believes each case is unique and opposes a "one size fits all" judicial philosophy. Plans to continue her dedicated service in the Superior Court, making decisions based on the facts.

Believes each case is unique and opposes a "one size fits all" judicial philosophy. 

Believes each case is unique and rejects a "one size fits all" philosophy. Plans to ensure fairness and make decisions based on the facts presented.

Believes in empathetic and methodical decision-making, emphasizing listening to both sides and valuing personal stories over statistics.

Said, "I’m empathetic, I listen to both sides, I’m methodical in my decision making, I listen, I don’t see statistics, I see the stories of people.”

Believes in judicial fairness and representation. Plans to ensure equitable treatment in the courtroom.

Believes in upholding the law without delving into specifics about cases or local changes. Supports judicial restraint over judicial activism.

- Believes each case is unique and opposes a "one size fits all" judicial philosophy. 
- Said, "I’m empathetic, I listen to both sides, I’m methodical in my decision making, I listen, I don’t see statistics, I see the stories of people.”
- Believes in judicial fairness and representation. Plans to ensure equitable treatment in the courtroom.
- Believes in upholding the law without delving into specifics about cases or local changes. Supports judicial restraint over judicial activism.

Judicial Philosophy

Rhinehart Resume

The candidate's website says, "The new Durham Expungement and Restoration program, or DEAR, an initiative that spun off from the I-Team’s work on a license amnesty program in 2017, identified more than eleven thousand people eligible to have outstanding fines dropped. That group was randomly divided into fifty-two groups."

Worked with the new Durham Expungement and Restoration program (DEAR) to identify more than eleven thousand people eligible to have outstanding fines dropped. 

Is a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.

Is an Executive Board Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter.

- Worked with the new Durham Expungement and Restoration program (DEAR) to identify more than eleven thousand people eligible to have outstanding fines dropped. 
- Is a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.
- Is an Executive Board Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter.

Community Involvement

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Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart is originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and was raised in the Raleigh community by her grandmother and mother. Shamieka attended Nash County Public Schools, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's indedgree n english in 1997, and completed her law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2001. She currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart is a North Carolina Superior Court Judge appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2023. She previously served as a District Court Judge for Durham County from January 1, 2017, presiding over various courts including Traffic Court, Domestic Violence Court, and Abuse, Neglect and Dependency. Prior to her judgeship, she had a career as a prosecutor.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart was elected as a District Court Judge for Durham County on January 1, 2017, after a successful campaign in 2015. She was appointed as a North Carolina Superior Court Judge by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2023. Previously, she served as a Durham County Board of Education Member, although the dates of service are not specified.

- As a former prosecutor, believes in "just outcomes...and justice for victims of crimes."
- Said, "With over 18 years of service, she continues to demonstrate her trustworthiness and commitment to justice within our court system."

- Worked with the new Durham Expungement and Restoration program (DEAR) to identify more than eleven thousand people eligible to have outstanding fines dropped. 
- Is a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.
- Is an Executive Board Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter

- Supports managing court backlogs by holding weekly dismissal dockets for specific groups. 
- Believes automatic and indefinite license revocation for unpaid fines in North Carolina is unjust without a hearing to assess payment capability.
- Believes efficient case management is crucial but highlights the challenge of outdated contact information for notifying individuals about their driver's license reinstatement.
- To increase transparency, supports publishing data on judges waiving court costs and implementing workarounds for revenue loss notifications
- Wants to minimize the burden on individuals with suspended licenses by not requiring their presence for dismissed charges.
- Plans to launch an online portal for people to check if their charges have been dismissed or are scheduled for dismissal.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart is originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and was raised in the Little Raleigh community by her grandmother and mother. She is the oldest of two children and has a younger brother. Shamieka attended Nash County Public Schools, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997, and completed her law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2001. She currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart is a North Carolina Superior Court Judge appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2023. She previously served as a District Court Judge for Durham County from January 1, 2017, presiding over various courts including Traffic Court, Domestic Violence Court, and Abuse, Neglect and Dependency. Prior to her judgeship, she had a career as a prosecutor and was also a former Durham County Board of Education member.

Shamieka LaCher Rhinehart was sworn in as a District Court Judge for Durham County on January 1, 2017, after a successful campaign in 2015. She was appointed as a North Carolina Superior Court Judge by Governor Roy Cooper in February 2023. Previously, she served as a Durham County Board of Education Member, although the dates of service are not specified.

Believes the "proper administration of justice requires resolution of these cases."

Believes court fees, which have increased 400% in North Carolina over twenty years, fund public schools, law enforcement, and the state’s general fund.

Believes in delivering fairness for all parties. Said, "Shamieka is a judge for the people."

The candidate's website says, "In order to actively engage those committed to the “Citizens for Rhinehart” campaign and ensure a win for the citizens of North Carolina, Shamieka needs volunteers to help spread the word about her qualifications and service record. Please consider volunteering and supporting the “Citizens for Rhinehart” campaign."

The candidate's website says, "In order to actively engage those committed to the “Citizens for Rhinehart” campaign and ensure a win for the citizens of North Carolina, Shamieka needs volunteers to help spread the word about her qualifications and service record."

The candidate's website says, "Judge Shamieka Rhinehart has the endorsements of numerous civic and community leaders, current and former local and state elected officials and members of the legal profession. A few endorsements are highlighted below."

The candidate's website says, "Volunteer at a campaign event"

The candidate's website says, "In order to actively engage those committed to the “Citizens for Rhinehart” campaign of Reasonable. Reliable. Ready. and ensure a win for the citizens of North Carolina, Shamieka needs volunteers to help spread the word about her qualifications and service record. Please consider volunteering and supporting the “Citizens for Rhinehart” campaign."

Believes in active community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and participation in local organizations. Supports being a "Community Servant Leader With a Passion for Justice."

Said, "Please consider volunteering and supporting 'Citzens for Rhinehart' campaign."

Believes community involvement is a "reality and dream come true."

The candidate's website says, "“I think I’m overwhelmed with the love and swearing in ceremony of 500 people, from all walks of life,” Rhinehart said. “I believe they were there for me to say you’ve been a faithful servant to the people who come in the court system and in your community.”"

- The Superior Court Judge hears both civil and criminal cases. Superior Court Judges try civil cases involving more than $10,000. Superior Court Judge hear appeals of misdemeanors and infraction cases that were first heard in the District Court,
- They make decisions on bail, meaning a Superior Court Judge could keep a non-dangerous person in jail before they are convicted by setting a high bail.
- In each district (except Wake County), the most senior judge in years of service is designated the senior resident superior court judge. They are responsible for various administrative duties, including appointing magistrates and some other court officials, and managing the scheduling of civil cases for trial.
- Superior court judges rotate among the districts within their divisions.  
- The Superior Court Judge is elected for 8-year terms. Elections are partisan.

Trial Judge who hears criminal and civil cases

North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 16A

Election results

Candidates (1)