RALEIGH -- North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker is coming upon her mandatory retirement later this month, meaning the state's high court will need a new leader. Governor Pat McCrory appointed that new person for the job on Monday.

McCrory said, "Through this appointment, I am continuing a long-standing custom and tradition of appointing the member of our Supreme Court with the most experience - the Senior Associate Justice - to serve as our state's next Chief Justice. And that person is Mark Martin."

Martin thanked the governor for appointing him and also thanked retiring Chief Justice Parker. Martin will take over on September 1.

The 51-year-old Martin faces Brunswick County Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis in November for election to an eight-year term as chief justice.