John Arrowood was born in Burnsville and raised in rural Yancey County until the death of his parents at age fifteen, after which he moved to Caldwell County to live with his brother. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Catawba College, where he received the prestigious Whitener Award, and went on to earn his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently serves as a Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, with prior experience as a Special Superior Court Judge, partner at James, McElroy & Diehl, PA, certified mediator, and active community leader through his involvement with organizations such as the Mint Museum and the Charlotte Urban Ministry Center.

Judge Toby Hampson, a Moore County native and graduate of North Carolina public schools, earned his B.A. from American University and his J.D. with honors from Campbell University School of Law. He began his legal career clerking at the North Carolina Court of Appeals and later led the Appellate Practice group at Wyrick Robbins. Elected to the Court of Appeals in 2018, he is a certified specialist in Appellate Practice and remains active in the legal community while living in Raleigh with his wife and three daughters.

Judge Christine Walczyk is the longest-serving district court trial judge in Wake County, with 19 years of experience. She was nominated by four chief district court judges (three Democrats and a Republican) to serve in leadership positions including Lead Judge in Family Court for more than 9 years, and currently as Lead Judge in the general civil court. A graduate of Boston College (magna cum laude) and UNC Law at Chapel Hill, she is actively involved in the legal community as Chair of the Judicial Division of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys.

Justice Anita Earls is an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court and a longtime civil rights attorney with over 30 years of experience in voting rights, school desegregation, and employment discrimination cases. She founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and has held key roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, UNC Law School, and multiple state commissions focused on equity and justice. A graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School, she continues to write, teach, and advocate for racial and social justice.