GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

 

SESSION LAW 2018-121

HOUSE BILL 717

 

 

AN ACT TO REVISE THE JUDICIAL divisions; to make certain adjustments to the assignment of counties to the superior court, district court, and prosecutorial districts; to clarify listing of judicial seats on the ballot; and to limit rotation of superior court judges to six months per year.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 7A‑41, as amended by S.L. 2018‑5, reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑41.  Superior court divisions and districts; judges.

(a)        The counties of the State are organized into judicial divisions and superior court districts, and each superior court district has the counties, and the number of regular resident superior court judges set forth in the following table, and for districts of less than a whole county, as set out in subsection (b) of this section:

                              Superior

Judicial                  Court                                                                     No. of Resident

Division                 District                  Counties                                  Judges

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––‑

First                       1                            Camden, Chowan,                              2

                                                            Currituck,

                                                            Dare, Gates,

                                                            Pasquotank,

                                                            Perquimans

First                       2                            Beaufort, Hyde,                                  1

                                                            Martin,

                                                            Tyrrell, Washington

First                       3A                         Pitt                                                      2

Second                  3B                         Carteret, Craven,                                 3

                                                            Pamlico

Second                  4A4                       Duplin, Jones, Onslow,                       12

                                                            Sampson

Second                  4B                         Onslow                                                1

Second                  5A                         (part of New Hanover,                        1

                                                            part of Pender

                                                            see subsection (b))

                              5B                         (part of New Hanover,                        1

                                                            part of Pender

                                                            see subsection (b))

                              5C                         (part of New Hanover,                        1

                                                            see subsection (b))

First                       6A                         Halifax                                                1

First                       6B                         Bertie, Hertford,                                 1

                                                            Northampton

First                       7A                         Nash                                                    1

First                       7B                         (part of Wilson,                                   1

                                                            part of Edgecombe,

                                                            see subsection (b))

First                       7C                         (part of Wilson,                                   1

                                                            part of Edgecombe,

                                                            see subsection (b))

Second                  8A                         Lenoir and Greene                              1

Second                  8B                         Wayne                                                 1

ThirdFirst              9                            Franklin, Granville,                             2

                                                            Person, Vance, Warren

Third                     10A                       (part of Wake,                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     10B                       (part of Wake,                                     21

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     10C                       (part of Wake,                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     10D                       (part of Wake,                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     10E                        (part of Wake,                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     10F                        (part of Wake,                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FourthThird           11A                       Harnett,                                               1

                                                            Lee

FourthThird           11B                       Johnston                                              1

FourthThird           12A                       (part of Cumberland,                          1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FourthThird           12B                       (part of Cumberland,                          1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FourthThird           12C                       (part of Cumberland,                          2

                                                            see subsection (b))

FourthSecond       13A                       Bladen, Columbus                               1

FourthSecond       13B                       Brunswick                                           1

ThirdFirst              14A                       (part of Durham,                                 1

                                                            see subsection (b))

ThirdFirst              14B                       (part of Durham,                                 3

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                     15A                       Alamance                                            2

ThirdFourth           15B                       Orange, Chatham                                2

FourthThird           16A                       Anson, Richmond,                              2

                                                            Scotland, HokeScotland

FourthSecond       16B                       Robeson                                              2

FifthFourth           17A                       Caswell, Rockingham                         2

FifthFourth           17B                       Stokes, Surry                                       1

FifthFourth           18A                       (part of Guilford,                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           18B                       (part of Guilford,                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           18C                       (part of Guilford,                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           18D                       (part of Guilford,                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           18E                        (part of Guilford,                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

SixthFourth           19A                       Cabarrus                                              1

FifthThird             19B                       Montgomery, Randolph                     2

SixthFourth           19C                       Rowan                                                 1

FourthThird           19D                       Hoke, Moore                                       12

SixthThird             20A                       Montgomery, Stanly                           12

SixthThird             20B                       Union                                                  2

FifthFourth           21A                       (part of Forsyth,                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           21B                       (part of Forsyth,                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           21C                       (part of Forsyth,                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

FifthFourth           21D                       (part of Forsyth,                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

SixthFourth           22A                       Alexander, Iredell                               2

SixthFourth           22B                       Davidson, Davie                                 2

FifthFourth           23                          Alleghany, Ashe,                                1

                                                            Wilkes, Yadkin

EighthFifth           24                          Avery, Madison,                                 2

                                                            Mitchell,

                                                            Watauga, Yancey

SeventhFifth         25A                       Burke, Caldwell                                  2

SeventhFifth         25B                       Catawba                                              2

SeventhFifth         26A                       (part of Mecklenburg,                         2

                                                            see subsection (b))

SeventhFifth         26B                       (part of Mecklenburg,                         3

                                                            see subsection (b))

SeventhFifth         26C                       (part of Mecklenburg,                         2

                                                            see subsection (b))

SeventhFifth         27A                       Gaston                                                 2

SeventhFifth         27B                       Cleveland, Lincoln                              2

EighthFifth           28                          Buncombe                                           2

EighthFifth           29A                       McDowell,                                          1

                                                            Rutherford

EighthFifth           29B                       Henderson, Polk,                                 1

                                                            Transylvania

EighthFifth           30A                       Cherokee, Clay,                                  1

                                                            Graham, Macon,

                                                            Swain

EighthFifth           30B                       Haywood, Jackson                              1

(b1)      The qualified voters of District 4 shall elect all judges established for District 4 in subsection (a) of this section, but only persons who reside in Onslow County may be candidates for one of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Duplin, Jones, or Sampson County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

…."

SECTION 1.(b)  The additional judge in District 19D, as established by this section, shall take office on January 1, 2019, with an election in 2018 to be held accordingly.

SECTION 1.(c)  The additional judge in District 20A, as established by this section, shall take office on January 1, 2021, with an election in 2020 to be held accordingly.

SECTION 1.(d)  Except as provided in this section, this section becomes effective January 1, 2019, and elections in 2018 shall be held accordingly.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 7A‑133 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑133.  Numbers of judges by districts; numbers of magistrates and additional seats of court, by counties.

(a)        Each district court district shall have the numbers of judges as set forth in the following table:

District                              Judges                                                 County

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1                                       5                                                     Camden

                                                                                                Chowan

                                                                                                Currituck

                                                                                                Dare

                                                                                                Gates

                                                                                                Pasquotank

                                                                                                Perquimans

2                                       4                                                     Martin

                                                                                                Beaufort

                                                                                                Tyrrell

                                                                                                Hyde

                                                                                                Washington

3A                                    5                                                     Pitt

3B                                    6                                                     Craven

                                                                                                Pamlico

                                                                                                Carteret

4                                       8                                                     Sampson

                                                                                                Duplin

                                                                                                Jones

                                                                                                Onslow

5                                       9                                                     New Hanover

                                                                                                Pender

6                                       4                                                     Northampton

                                                                                                Bertie

                                                                                                Hertford

                                                                                                Halifax

7                                       7                                                     Nash

                                                                                                Edgecombe

                                                                                                Wilson

8                                       6                                                     Wayne

                                                                                                Greene

                                                                                                Lenoir

9                                       5                                                     Granville

                                                                                                (part of Vance

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

                                                                                                Franklin

                                                                                                Person

9B                                    2                                                     Warren

                                                                                                (part of Vance

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

10                                    19                                                    Wake

11                                    11                                                    Harnett

                                                                                                Johnston

                                                                                                Lee

12                                    10                                                    Cumberland

13                                     6                                                     Bladen

                                                                                                Brunswick

                                                                                                Columbus

14                                     7                                                     Durham

15A                                  4                                                     Alamance

15B                                  5                                                     Orange

                                                                                                Chatham

16A                                 64                                                    Scotland

                                                                                                Hoke

                                                                                                Anson

                                                                                                Richmond

16B                                  5                                                     Robeson

17A                                  4                                                     Caswell

                                                                                                Rockingham

17B                                  4                                                     Stokes

                                                                                                Surry

18                                    14                                                    Guilford

19A                                  5                                                     Cabarrus

19B                                 75                                                    Montgomery

                                                                                                Moore

                                                                                                Randolph

19C                                  5                                                     Rowan

19D                                  4                                                     Hoke, Moore

20A                                 23                                                    StanlyMontgomery, Stanly

20B                                  1                                                     (part of Union

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

20C                                  2                                                     (part of Union

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

20D                                  1                                                     Union

21                                    11                                                    Forsyth

22A                                  5                                                     Alexander

                                                                                                Iredell

22B                                  6                                                     Davidson

                                                                                                Davie

23                                     4                                                     Alleghany

                                                                                                Ashe

                                                                                                Wilkes

                                                                                                Yadkin

24                                     4                                                     Avery

                                                                                                Madison

                                                                                                Mitchell

                                                                                                Watauga

                                                                                                Yancey

25                                     9                                                     Burke

                                                                                                Caldwell

                                                                                                Catawba

26                                    21                                                    Mecklenburg

27A                                  7                                                     Gaston

27B                                  6                                                     Cleveland

                                                                                                Lincoln

28                                     7                                                     Buncombe

29A                                  3                                                     McDowell

                                                                                                Rutherford

29B                                  4                                                     Henderson

                                                                                                Polk

                                                                                                Transylvania

30                                     6                                                     Cherokee

                                                                                                Clay

                                                                                                Graham

                                                                                                Haywood

                                                                                                Jackson

                                                                                                Macon

                                                                                                Swain.

(b)        For district court districts of less than a whole county, or with part or all of one county with part of another, the composition of the district is as follows:

(b5)      The qualified voters of District 16A shall elect all judges established for District 16A in subsection (a) of this section, but only persons who reside in Anson County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Scotland County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Richmond County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships. In order to implement this section the following shall apply in order to transition from at large seats to residency requirements:

(1)        In 2020, and every four years thereafter, the district court judgeship requiring a resident of Anson County shall be elected, and a district court judgeship requiring a resident of Richmond County shall be elected.

(2)        In 2022, and every four years thereafter, the district court judgeship requiring a resident of Scotland County shall be elected, and a district court judgeship requiring a resident of Richmond County shall be elected.

(b6)      The qualified voters of District 20A shall elect all judges established for District 20A in subsection (a) of this section, but only persons who reside in Montgomery County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Montgomery or Stanly County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(b7)      Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the qualified voters of District 25 shall elect all judges established for District 25 in subsection (a) of this section, but only persons who reside in Catawba County may be candidates for five of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Burke or Caldwell County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships. In order to implement this section the following shall apply in order to transition from at large seats to residency requirements:

(1)        Transition of seats; regular elections. – For any district court judgeship that is held by a resident of Burke or Caldwell Counties on July 1, 2018, at the next general election after July 1, 2018, that district court judgeship shall be filled only by a person who is a resident of Burke or Caldwell Counties. Until such time as three district court judgeships transition under subdivision (2) of this subsection, for any district court judgeship that is held by a resident of Catawba County on July 1, 2018, that district court judgeship shall, at the next general election after July 1, 2018, be filled only by a person who is a resident of Burke, Caldwell, or Catawba County.

(2)        Transition of seats; vacancies. – Upon each of the first three district court judgeship vacancies occurring in District Court District 25 after July 1, 2018, due to death, resignation, removal, or retirement of a person who is a resident of Catawba County holding a judgeship on July 1, 2018, that vacancy shall be filled according to law for the remainder of the unfilled term. At the next general election held for that district court judgeship, only persons who reside in Burke or Caldwell County may be candidates for that district court judgeship. Any primary associated with that general election for that district court judgeship after the completion of the term shall also be held accordingly, in accordance with this subsection.

(3)        Notification to State Board. – Upon each of the first three district court judgeship vacancies occurring after July 1, 2018, in District Court District 25 due to the death, resignation, removal, or retirement of a person who is a resident of Catawba County holding a judgeship on July 1, 2018, the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide written notice of the vacancy to the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. During the filing period for that district court judgeship at the next general election held for that district court judgeship, the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement shall ensure that only persons who reside in Burke or Caldwell County may file as candidates for that district court judgeship in accordance this subsection.

(4)        Final transition. – If a total of three district court judgeships have not transferred under subdivision (2) of this subsection to be eligible to be held by only persons who are residents of Burke or Caldwell Counties by January 1, 2030, a sufficient number of district court judgeships to total three district court judgeships shall be transferred to be held by only persons who are residents of Burke or Caldwell Counties on January 1, 2031, and the 2030 elections shall be held accordingly.

…."

SECTION 2.(b)  The additional judge in District Court District 20A, as established by this section, shall take office on January 1, 2019, with an election in 2018 to be held accordingly. In implementing G.S. 7A‑133(b6), as enacted by this section, State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement shall ensure that only residents of Montgomery County may be candidates for the additional judge in District Court District 20A in the 2018 election, and every four years thereafter.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 7A‑133(b5) and G.S. 7A‑133(b6), as enacted by this section, become effective January 1, 2021, with elections in 2020 to be held accordingly.

SECTION 2.(d)  Except as otherwise provided, G.S. 7A‑133, as enacted by this section, becomes effective January 1, 2019.

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 7A‑60 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑60.  District attorneys and prosecutorial districts.

(a)        The State shall be divided into prosecutorial districts, as shown in subsection (a1) of this section. There shall be a district attorney for each prosecutorial district, as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section who shall be a resident of the prosecutorial district for which elected. A vacancy in the office of district attorney shall be filled as provided in Article IV, Sec. 19 of the Constitution.

(a1)      (Effective January 1, 2019) The counties of the State are organized into prosecutorial districts, and each district has the counties and the number of full‑time assistant district attorneys set forth in the following table:

                                                                                                                  No. of Full‑Time

Prosecutorial                                                                                                Asst. District

District                                                Counties                                        Attorneys

1                              Camden, Chowan, Currituck,                                       11

                                   Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

                                Perquimans

2                              Beaufort, Hyde, Martin,                                                  8

                                   Tyrrell, Washington

3                              Pitt                                                                                 12

4                              Carteret, Craven, Pamlico                                            13

5                              Duplin, Jones, Onslow, Sampson                                 19

6                              New Hanover, Pender                                                   19

7                              Bertie, Halifax, Hertford,                                              11

                                   Northampton

8                              Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson                                           19

9                              Greene, Lenoir, Wayne                                                 14

1011                        Franklin, Granville, Person                                       1415

                                   Vance, Warren

1110                        Wake                                                                             42

12                            Harnett, Lee                                                                  11

13                            Johnston                                                                        10

14                            Cumberland                                                                  25

15                            Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus                                     14

16                            Durham                                                                         18

17                            Alamance                                                                      12

18                            Orange, Chatham                                                          10

19                            Scotland, Hoke                                                               7

20                            Robeson                                                                        12

21                            Anson, RichmondRichmond, Scotland                        69

22                            Caswell, Rockingham                                                   98

23                            Stokes, Surry                                                                   8

24                            Guilford                                                                        34

25                            Cabarrus                                                                          9

2637                        Montgomery, Randolph                                                10

27                            Rowan                                                                             9

2829                        Hoke, Moore                                                                 59

2928                        Montgomery, Stanly                                                     56

30                            Union                                                                            11

31                            Forsyth                                                                          27

32                            Alexander, Iredell                                                         12

33                            Davidson, Davie                                                           12

34                            Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, Yadkin                                  9

35                            Avery, Madison, Mitchell,                                              8

                                   Watauga, Yancey

36                            Burke, Caldwell, CatawbaCaldwell                           199

3726                        Mecklenburg                                                                 58

38                            Gaston                                                                           15

39                            Cleveland, Lincoln                                                       12

40                            Buncombe                                                                     14

41                            McDowell, Rutherford                                                   8

42                            Henderson, Polk, Transylvania                                       9

43                            Cherokee, Clay, Graham,                                             12

                                Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain.

44                            Catawba                                                                        10

…."

SECTION 3.(b)  The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 19 formerly consisting of Hoke and Scotland Counties is terminated upon the expiration of the current term, December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2021, District 19 formerly consisting of Hoke and Scotland Counties is reassigned as provided in this section. All open investigations and pending cases for Prosecutorial District 19 formerly consisting of Hoke and Scotland Counties shall be transferred to either District 21 or District 29, as enacted by this section. Hoke County is added to District 29, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is nine. Scotland County is added to District 21, and the total number of ADAs in that district is nine.

SECTION 3.(c)  The merging of Montgomery County into Prosecutorial District 28, as enacted by this section, becomes effective January 1, 2019. All open investigations and pending cases in Montgomery County are transferred to Prosecutorial District 28, effective January 1, 2019. The total number of ADAs in District 28 is nine.

SECTION 3.(d)  The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 36 formerly consisting of Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties is terminated upon the expiration of the term expiring December 31, 2022. Effective January 1, 2023, District 36 formerly consisting of Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties is reassigned as provided in this section. All open investigations and pending cases for Prosecutorial District 36 formerly consisting of Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties shall be transferred to either District 36 or District 44, as enacted by this section. Burke and Caldwell Counties remain in District 36, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is nine. Catawba County is added to District 44, and the total number of ADAs in that district is 10.

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 163A‑1112(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)      Except as provided in this section, each official ballot shall contain all the following elements:

(1)        The heading prescribed by the State Board. The heading shall include the term "Official Ballot".

(2)        The title of each office to be voted on and the number of votes allowed in each ballot item.

(3)        The names of the candidates as they appear on their notice of candidacy filed pursuant to G.S. 163A‑972, 163A‑973, 163A‑974, 163A‑975, 163A‑976, 163A‑977, and 163A‑978, or on petition forms filed in accordance with G.S. 163A‑1005. No title, appendage, or appellation indicating rank, status, or position shall be printed on the official ballot in connection with the candidate's name. Candidates, however, may use the title Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. Nicknames shall be permitted on an official ballot if used in the notice of candidacy or qualifying petition, but the nickname shall appear according to standards adopted by the State Board. Those standards shall allow the presentation of legitimate nicknames in ways that do not mislead the voter or unduly advertise the candidacy. In the case of candidates for presidential elector, the official ballot shall not contain the names of the candidates for elector but instead shall contain the nominees for President and Vice President which the candidates for elector represent. The State Board shall establish a review procedure that local boards of elections shall follow to ensure that candidates' names appear on the official ballot in accordance with this subdivision.

(4)        Party designations in partisan ballot items.

(5)        A means by which the voter may cast write‑in votes, as provided in G.S. 163A‑1006. No space for write‑ins is required unless a write‑in candidate has qualified under G.S. 163A‑1006 or unless the ballot item is exempt from G.S. 163A‑1006.

(6)        Instructions to voters, unless the State Board allows instructions to be placed elsewhere than on the official ballot.

(7)        The printed title and facsimile signature of the chair of the county board of elections.

(8)        The designation of vacancy sought, for any vacancy for the office of Justice or judge of the courts. The designation shall not be the name or names of any incumbent or other individual but shall be designated as determined by the State Board."

SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 163A‑975 reads as rewritten:

"§ 163A‑975.  Notice of candidacy for certain offices to indicate vacancy.

In any primary in which there are two or more vacancies for associate justices for the Supreme Court, two or more vacancies for the Court of Appeals, two or more vacancies for superior or district court judge, or two vacancies for United States Senator from North Carolina, each candidate shall, at the time of filing notice of candidacy, file with the State Board a written statement designating the vacancy to which the candidate seeks nomination. The designation shall not be the name or names of any incumbent or other individual but shall be designated as determined by the State Board. A person seeking election for a specialized district judgeship established under G.S. 7A‑147 shall, at the time of filing notice of candidacy, file with the State Board a written statement designating the specialized judgeship to which the person seeks nomination. Votes cast for a candidate shall be effective only for nomination to the vacancy for which the candidate has given notice of candidacy as provided in this section."

SECTION 4.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

SECTION 5.  G.S. 7A‑47.3 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑47.3.  Rotation and assignment; sessions.

(a)        To effect the intent of Article IV, Section 11 of the North Carolina Constitution, each regular resident superior court judge may, upon each rotation, be assigned to hold the courts either of one of the districts or of one of the sets of districts, as defined in G.S. 7A‑41.1(a), districts in that judge's judicial division.

(b)        All sessions of superior court shall be for an entire county, whether that county comprises or is located in a district or in a set of districts as defined in G.S. 7A‑41.1(a), and at each session all matters and proceedings arising anywhere in the county shall be heard.

(c)        In making assignment of the judges of the superior court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall strive to allow each regular resident superior court judge to be assigned to the district or set of districts from which that regular resident superior court judge was elected or appointed no less than one‑half of the calendar year.

(d)       For purposes of this section, "district or set of districts" shall have the same meaning as in G.S. 7A‑41.1(a)."

SECTION 6.  Other than the filing period, the election for the office of judge for Superior Court District 19D and District Court District 20A shall be held in accordance with Section 4 of S.L. 2017‑214, as amended. Candidates seeking the office of judge for Superior Court District 19D or District Court District 20A shall file their notice of candidacy with the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement no earlier than 12:00 noon on July 9, 2018, and no later than 12:00 noon on July 13, 2018.

SECTION 7.  Subsection 18B.6 of S.L. 2018‑5 reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 18B.6. Effective January 1, 2019, G.S. 7A‑41(a1) G.S. 7A‑60(a1) reads as rewritten:

(a1)      The counties of the State are organized into prosecutorial districts, and each district has the counties and the number of full‑time assistant district attorneys set forth in the following table:

…."

SECTION 8.  The Director of the Budget shall increase the budget of the Administrative Office of the Courts from the unreserved fund balance set forth in S.L. 2018‑5 in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the judgeships created by this bill. These funds are hereby appropriated.

SECTION 9.  If Senate Bill 757, 2018 Regular Session, becomes law, then Section 1(c) of that act reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 1.(c)  In order to implement the superior court districts as enacted by this section, in 2018 and every eight years thereafter, elections shall be conducted for Districts 5A, 5B, 26C, 26E, 26F, and 26H; in 2020 and every eight years thereafter, elections shall be conducted for District 26A; and in 2022 and every eight years thereafter, elections shall be conducted for Districts 26B, 26D, and 26G; and in 2024 and every eight years thereafter, elections shall be conducted for District 5C.Districts 5A and 5C."

SECTION 10.  If Senate Bill 757, 2018 Regular Session, becomes law, the assignment of judicial divisions in G.S. 7A‑41(a), as enacted by that act, shall be repealed.

SECTION 11.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 15th day of June, 2018.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Bill Rabon

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  David R. Lewis

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

 

 

                                                                         VETO   Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

 

 

Became law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor at 5:42 p.m. this 28th day of June, 2018.

 

                                                                    s/  Sarah Lang Holland

                                                                         Senate Principal Clerk