THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996                  TAG: 9605240554
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: By MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   44 lines

CHIEF JUSTICE RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION ADVOCATING LESS WORK FOR LAWYERS

Not many top judges run for re-election on a platform that includes less work for lawyers.

But that's what North Carolina's chief justice, Burley B. Mitchell Jr., was doing this week in Elizabeth City.

``We have to make our courts useable again,'' Mitchell said Friday. ``We have to improve both civil and criminal court operations and strip away layers of procedure that now make it difficult for citizens to use the courts.''

And if we don't?

``This great system is ours to save or ours to lose,'' said the chief justice.

The 55-year-old Mitchell is a lawyer's lawyer who is lining up legal talent in the General Assembly and elsewhere to tackle the daunting job of streamlining the court system.

``We can do it if we take it one step at a time,'' he said.

``I think we can accomplish this in a fairly short period if our judges take charge of their courtrooms. We've already reduced the caseloads that slowed down the system.''

Mitchell, who was appointed in 1995 by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. to replace retiring Chief Justice James B. Exum Jr., has enlisted Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare, to push court streamlining through the state Senate.

``Realistically, I doubt if we can get remedial legislation through the General Assembly until the 1997 full session,'' said Mitchell.

But as a lifelong Democrat, Mitchell is already working with Republican lawyers as well as Democrats, in and out of politics, to support his ideas.

And in November, Mitchell will have to win re-election if he wants to remain on the state Supreme Court. He is opposed by Ray Warren, a Charlotte attorney and Republican.

Basnight last year got a bill through the Senate that provided for appointment of appellate judges by the governor with confirmation by the General Assembly and retention of the judges by public election.

The bill failed to survive a Republican House and Mitchell is pushing for similar legislation in this or next year's General Assembly.

In Elizabeth City, Mitchell was honored Thursday by lawyers and court officers at a reception in Pine Lakes Country Club arranged by Russell Twiford, an Elizabeth City attorney. by CNB