Get the facts About Supreme Court Candidate Sarah Stevens.
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As an attorney in private practice, Sarah Stevens defended a teacher who sexually abused young girls.
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As a legislator, Sarah Stevens fought against tougher rules for child predators.
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As a candidate for the Supreme Court, Sarah Stevens raised money with a politically powerful child molester.
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As an attorney in private practice, Sarah Stevens defended a teacher who sexually abused young girls.
Stevens voluntarily represented Kemp Phillips, a high school teacher charged in a horrific sexual abuse case involving two teenage girls. Police uncovered explicit sexual activity inside a high school gym office, including a game of strip poker involving a student. Phillips ultimately pleaded guilty to 10 counts of severe sexual misconduct, including three counts of statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl; four counts of taking indecent liberties with a student; two counts of sex offense with a student; and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child under 16. Stevens even declined to say whether he would resign from his job at the school.
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WFMY News 2: High School Coach Charged in Sex Crime is Fired
Wilmington Star News: Former coach sentenced on sex charges
Hear Emma's Story
Emma, a survivor herself of teenage rape, became an advocate for survivors. She's warning voters: We cannot trust Sarah Stevens.
As a legislator, Sarah Stevens fought against tougher rules for child predators.
When the legislature moved to modernize state child sexual abuse laws and protect minors through the Safe Child Act (SB 199), Stevens voted NO. The bill extended the civil statute of limitations, giving survivors more time to seek justice against their abusers. In the corresponding House bill (HB37), Stevens fought to slash that window to just age 28—offering victims a mere 10 years after turning 18 to come forward. She claimed a longer window would allow victims to "go after somebody with deep pockets" and would be a “nightmare” for the accused. Her push was so extreme that even her fellow Republicans publicly condemned it.
Hear Katie's Story
When child sexual abuse survivor Katie fought to pass the Safe Child Act, she came face-to-face with Sarah Stevens' effort to slash protections for victims.
Stevens' objection to the Safe Child Act wasn't an isolated vote—it’s part of a pattern of her protecting predators over children.
After 8-year-old Christal Lane was beaten to death by her grandmother—despite multiple warnings to local authorities—lawmakers took action. The state Senate unanimously passed SB 625 to fix systemic oversight failures in foster care, but Stevens killed the effort in the state House. Stevens stripped "Christal’s Law" out of the bill—a critical provision that would have allowed state officials to intervene when local social services failed to act on reported child abuse — because she claimed it gave officials "too much power."
Read More about stevens' record of fighting against tougher rules for abusers:
That’s not all. Stevens has even dismissed federal sex offender tracking requirements as too "bothersome" and "expensive" to bother keeping up with.
Learn more about Stevens' efforts to block foster care reform
As a candidate for the Supreme Court, Sarah Stevens raised money with a politically powerful child molester.
Last year, Stevens was a featured speaker at a political fundraising event hosted by Harvey West, a former police officer who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent liberties with a child and served six years in prison. His crimes involved multiple young girls—some as young as 14. In the weeks leading up to the event, Stevens went on West’s wife’s podcast to promote the event. She then attended as a featured guest and accepted thousands of dollars raised at the event.
From courtrooms to the statehouse, Sarah Stevens has a long record of protecting predators. Her choices — from defending a high school teacher who abused younger girls to voting against legislation to protect victims and foster kids —show a persistent pattern of prioritizing abusers over vulnerable children.
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Raleigh News and Observer: NC court hopeful says she ‘didn’t even know’ sex offender. But records show ties
Asheville Watchdog: Democracy Watch: Links between convicted sex offender, state GOP leadership may complicate candidacies
NC Lawyers Weekly: Conservative court candidate’s ties to convicted sex offender draw scrutiny