Kieran Shanahan of Shanahan Law Group, PLLC representing N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Ann Marie Calabria
RALEIGH, N.C. – Kieran J. Shanahan of Raleigh-based Shanahan Law Group, PLLC, will represent N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Ann Marie Calabria in a case to be argued before the Court of Appeals. A hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the N.C. Court of Appeals. Pursuant to an Order by the Court, two emergency recall judges will be called upon to help expedite the case.
The case relates to the FairJudges.net 527 organization, which expended funds in an effort to influence an election for the N.C. Supreme Court in which Judge Calabria was a candidate. Judge Calabria, whose campaign participated in a public financing program for judicial candidates, sought and was denied relief from the rescue funds available through the public financing program.
“Judge Ann Marie Calabria participated in the state’s public financing program for judicial candidates, and she did so in good faith,” says Shanahan. “This program was set up by the legislature to reduce the influence of money in judicial elections and to encourage highly qualified candidates to participate. Unfortunately, when this 527 organization spent substantial sums of money to influence statewide judicial elections, Judge Calabria and other candidates who participated in the public financing program were disadvantaged and not given the ‘rescue funds’ which are provided for by law and designed to level the playing field in these situations. I am proud to represent Judge Calabria who is pursuing this case, not for her own benefit, but to clarify the law for future elections.”
Shanahan Law Group is a boutique law firm in Raleigh, N.C. that offers a full range of business and litigation services. The firm’s practice areas include complex business litigation, business formation and exit strategies, licensing and distribution, agribusiness, employment law, white collar criminal defense, trusts and estates and government representation. Shanahan Law Group has represented high-profile elected officials from both major parties, including former State Treasurer Richard Moore, a Democrat, and former State Senator Hugh Webster, a Republican. For more information about Shanahan Law Group, call (919) 856-9494 or visit https://shanahanlawgroup.com.