Date Died: Living

Place Buried: Living

George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. was born on April 27, 1947 in Wilson, NC, the son of Dr. George Kenneth Butterfield and Addie Lourine (Davis) Butterfield. He graduated from Charles H. Darden High School in Wilson, NC in 1965.

From 1968 to 1970, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. served as a Specialist in the U.S. Army.

In 1971, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. earned his B.A. degree in Political Science and Sociology from North Carolina Central University; he earned his J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1974.

Also in 1971, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. married Jean Farmer; they had two daughters. In 1991, George and Jean were divorced.

From 1975 to 1988, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. was a Senior Partner in the law firm of Fitch, Butterfield & Wynn.

In the 1988 General Election, George Kenneth Butterfield was elected as a Judge in the NC Superior Court for the 1st Judicial District.

In February of 2001, Governor Michael Francis Easley appointed George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. as an Associate Justice on the NC Supreme Court, taking the seat of the former Chief Justice Henry E. Frye, who was defeated in the November 2000 General Election by Isaac Beverly Lake, Jr., and Frye left the bench on January 1, 2001. Associate Justice George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. was defeated in his re-election bid in the November 2002 General Elections by Edward Thomas Brady. He left the bench on January 1, 2003.

In 2003, Governor Michael Francis Easley appointed George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. as a Special Judge on the NC Superior Court. He remained on this court until he retired in May of 2004.

In a 2004 Special Election, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. was elected to represent the 1st NC District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and on July 20, 2004 he took his seat on the:
- 108th U.S. Congress that met from 2003 to 2005 - replaced Frank W. Ballance, Jr. who resigned
- 109th U.S. Congress that met from 2006 to 2007
- 110th U.S. Congress that met from 2007 to 2009
- 111th U.S. Congress that met from 2009 to 2011
- 112th U.S. Congress that met from 2011 to 2013
- 113th U.S. Congress that met from 2013 to 2015
- 114th U.S. Congress that met from 2015 to 2017

In 2015, George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. became Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Butterfield graduated Charles H. Darden High School, and later, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) with degrees in Political Science and Sociology. In 1974, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the NCCU School of Law launching his legal career. Butterfield served honorably in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970.

In 1988, Congressman Butterfield was elected as Resident Superior Court judge in the 1st Judicial Division. For the next twelve years, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 counties of North Carolina. In February 2001, he was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court by Governor Mike Easley. In 2002, Butterfield lost his seat on the Supreme Court but returned to the Superior Court bench by special appointment of Governor Mike Easley and served in that position until his retirement in May 2004.

Butterfield was elected to Congress in a special election on July 20, 2004 to fill the unexpired term of Representative Frank Ballance, who resigned for health reasons. He defeated Republican candidate Greg Dority and Libertarian Party nominee Tom Eisenmenger. Butterfield was sworn into office on July 21, 2004.

On July 20, 2004, Butterfield won the Democratic primary entitling him to run in the November 2004 general election. He again faced Dority and won his first full term with 72% of the popular vote. He was unopposed for reelection in 2006, and beat Dean Stephens in the 2008 general election, 69.9% to 30.1%.

Originally endorsing John Edwards for the presidential primary, in January 2008, Butterfield endorsed Barack Obama for the general election.

In 2009, Butterfield announced that he would introduce the Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite Act, providing federal funding for local housing project authorities to combat bedbugs.

George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. was born in Wilson, NC on April 27, 1947, the son of Dr. G.K. Butterfield and Addie Davis. He graduated from Charles H. Darden High School in Wilson, NC in 1965; B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from North Carolina Central University 1971; JD from NCCU University School of Law in 1974.

Professional Background:

Associate Justice in the NC Supreme Court 2001-2003. Judge, NC Superior Court 1988-2000. Attorney 1975-1988.

Boards and Commissions:

President, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers 1981-1984; Member, Employment and Training Council of North Carolina; Chair, Board of Directors, Wilson Opportunities Industrialization Center.

Personal Information:

Two children.