# Valerie Zachary

Judge Zachary received her Juris Doctor cum laude from the Harvard Law School in 1987. In 1984, Judge Zachary graduated from Michigan State University, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts with honors in Multidisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in French, Economics, and Political Science. In 2015, Governor Pat McCrory appointed Judge Zachary to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Following a statewide race, North Carolina voters elected Judge Zachary to an eight-year term in 2016. Judge Zachary was reelected to another eight-year term in 2024.

Court of Appeals Judge · [North Carolina Court of Appeals](/kyj/court/nc/north-carolina-court-of-appeals)

## Valerie Zachary at a glance

Current role

Court of Appeals Judge

Court

[North Carolina Court of Appeals](/kyj/court/nc/north-carolina-court-of-appeals)

Jurisdiction

North Carolina · State

Judicial service

Active

## Biography

### Professional career

- Valerie Johnson Zachary is an American judge serving on the North Carolina Court of Appeals since July 31, 2015, appointed by Governor Pat McCrory to fill a vacancy and later elected to an eight‐year term in 2016 and re‐elected in 2024

- At Harvard, she held a position as a research assistant for Professor Laurence H. Tribe on American Constitutional Law and participated in the Ames Moot Court Competition and the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau

### Education

### Additional information

- She was elected in 2016 and re‐elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Ed Eldred with 52.28% of the vote.

- In 2019, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice honored her with the “Outstanding Appellate Judge” award

- Born Valerie Johnson in 1962, she earned a B.A. with honors in Multidisciplinary Studies (French, Economics, Political Science) from Michigan State University in 1984, and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1987.

- Date of birth: 1962

- She has also participated in numerous CLE/CJE presentations, judicial conferences, and advisory panels

## Applicable Court Rules & Procedures

Rules last checked July 26, 2026 .

### Remote appearances

North Carolina law permits judicial officials to conduct proceedings by audio and video transmission, subject to statutory safeguards and case-specific limits.

For North Carolina civil jury proceedings, remote witness testimony requires a record finding of good cause.

North Carolina audio/video proceedings must use videoconferencing applications approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

### Recording and broadcasting

North Carolina Judicial Branch guidance distinguishes official court reporters, digital recording technicians, and later transcription of official recordings.

North Carolina states that not all court proceedings are recorded and identifies when audio recordings may be requested from the clerk.

## Sources

Identity source checked July 26, 2026 .

Biography sources checked August 2, 2026 .

### North Carolina Judicial Branch official judicial roster

Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### G.S. 7A-49.6. Proceedings conducted by audio and video transmission.

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

### Obtaining Court Records

Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)