Cheri Beasley is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina whose trailblazing career includes two decades on both trial and appellate courts. She is a Partner in the Raleigh office and a member of the firm’s Appeals and Issues team.
Cheri joined the state’s highest court in 2012 and was appointed Chief Justice by Governor Roy Cooper in March 2019. As head of North Carolina’s judicial branch, she initiated reforms to improve efficiency, fairness and accessibility in the state’s court system. Under her leadership, state courts began adoption of electronic filing and cloud computing systems to make court services available remotely and expanded access to specialty treatment and family courts. As Chief Justice, she also launched North Carolina’s Faith and Justice Alliance, bringing together legal and religious leaders to address the legal needs of low-income residents.
She previously served for four years on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and for a decade as a District Court judge in the state’s 12th Judicial District. Throughout her career, Cheri has advocated for fair, independent, and accessible courts. She has traveled nationwide and abroad to promote the rule of law and the administration of justice. She often lectures on trial and appellate advocacy at North Carolina’s law schools and has served on numerous committees with both the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association to promote access to legal services.
Cheri is a graduate of The University of Tennessee College of Law and Douglass College of Rutgers University. She earned a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law. Cheri is a member of the American Law Institute and has held several leadership roles in the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. She also holds several honorary degrees and has been recognized repeatedly for her leadership and public service.
Member, American Law Institute, 2020-present
Advisor, American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law Third Torts: Concluding Provisions, 2019–present
Member, The University of Tennessee College of Law Dean’s Circle, 2017–present
Member, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, 1995-present
Member, American Bar Association, 1993–present
Member, North Carolina Bar Association, 1993–present
Member, Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial District Bar, 2009–present
Member, National Bar Association, 1994-2005, 2017–present
Member, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, 1994–present
Member, Capital City Lawyers Association, 1994–1996, 2017–present
Member, National Association of Women Judges, 2017–2020
Member, Conference of Chief Justices, Problem Solving Courts Committee, 2019–2020
Chair, North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission, 2019–2020
Chair, North Carolina Commission on Professionalism, 2019–2020
Member, North Carolina Bar Association Foundation, Endowment Committee, 2011–2019
Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award, The Association of Junior Leagues, International, 2020
Outstanding Appellate Judge, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, 2020
William H. Hastie Award, National Bar Association, 2020
Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni Honoree, Rutgers University, 2019
Marguerite Adams Public Service Award, 66th Alpha Kappa Alpha, Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, 2019
Presidential Citation, The Links, Incorporated, 2019
Judge of the Year, NC Association of Women Attorneys’, 2019
President Award, Black Women’s Agenda, 2019
Distinguished Alumni Award, The University of Tennessee, 2019
President’s Award, Wake County Bar Association, 2019
Women Who Lead Award, Shaw University, 2019
Celebrating Black History Award, WRAL, 2019
Living Legends, First Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC, 2018
Trailblazer Award for African-Americans, The University of Tennessee, 2018
Capitol Area, Public Service Award, National Council of Negro Women, 2018
Legal Legends of Color Honoree, North Carolina Bar Association Minorities in the Profession Committee, 2016
Douglass Society Inductee, Douglass College, Rutgers University, 2015
Wiley A. Branton Symposium Honoree, National Bar Association, 2015
Chancellor’s Medallion, Fayetteville State University, 2014
Chair’s Award, North Carolina Central University, Department of Criminal Justice, 2014
Gwyneth B. Davis Award, NC Association of Women Attorneys, 2014
Achievement Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Pi Omega Chapter, 2014
Women of Justice Public Official Award, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2013
Outstanding Achievement Award for Justice, Alliance of North Carolina Black: Elected Officials and Advocates, 2013
Hall of Fame Inductee, Rutgers University African-American Alumni Alliance, 2013
Commissioned, Kentucky Colonel, Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky, 2012
Henry Toll Fellow, Council on State Governments, 2012
Presidential Award of Distinction for Public Service, General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc., 2011
Cobra Award of Excellence, Whites Creek High School, 2009
Woman of Achievement, General Federation of Women’s Clubs of North Carolina, 2009