Perdue appoints four judges, including DPS leader Young

Perdue appointed general counsel Mark Davis to the state Court of Appeals and Department of Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young as a special Superior Court judge. She also reappointed Calvin Murphy as a special Superior Court judge and appointed deputy general counsel Kendra Hill as a special Superior Court judge.

The news release about the appointment lists no judicial experience for Hill, Young or Davis, the last of whom will serve on the state's second-highest court, reviewing other judges' opinions. A Perdue spokeswoman didn't immediately return a call.

Hill had served as chief ethics officer and deputy general counsel for the governor. Murphy has been a special Superior Court judge since 2007.

"I am pleased and proud to appoint these outstanding public servants to judicial positions serving the people of North Carolina," Perdue said in the news release. "I know they will perform their duties with distinction and honor."

Davis will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Cheri Beasley to the state Supreme Court. He's served as Perdue's general counsel for the past two years. Before that, he was a special deputy attorney general and also spent 13 years in private practice.

Young previously worked as chief legal counsel for former Gov. Mike Easley, who accepted criminal responsibility for an improperly filed campaign finance report in November 2010.

In 2010, Chief Justice Sarah Parker appointed Murphy to serve on North Carolina's Business Court as a special Superior Court judge for complex business cases. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan recommended him for a federal judgeship in 2009.

Hill previously worked for the North Carolina School Boards Association and the Wake County public school system.