GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    4

HOUSE BILL 717

Committee Substitute Favorable 6/26/17

Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 10/4/17

Committee Substitute #3 Favorable 10/4/17

 

Short Title:      Judicial Redistricting & Investment Act.

(Public)

Sponsors:

 

Referred to:

 

April 11, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to revise judicial districts.

Whereas, Section 9 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution provides that the General Assembly shall, from time to time, divide the State into a convenient number of Superior Court judicial districts; and

Whereas, Section 10 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution provides that the General Assembly shall, from time to time, divide the State into a convenient number of local court districts for the holding of District Courts; and

Whereas, Section 11 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution requires the rotation of Superior Court Judges among the various districts of a division and authorizes the General Assembly to divide the State into a number of judicial divisions for this purpose; and

Whereas, Section 18 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution provides that the General Assembly shall, from time to time, divide the State into a convenient number of prosecutorial districts; and

Whereas, the last comprehensive reforms to the judicial and prosecutorial districts were made in the 1960s for the purpose of establishing a unified court system; and

Whereas, in the 50 years since the comprehensive reforms of the 1960s, there have been only uncoordinated and piecemeal changes to the judicial and prosecutorial districts, which have been inconsistent with and contrary to the objective of preserving a unified court system; and

Whereas, the uncoordinated and piecemeal changes made to the judicial and prosecutorial districts over the last 50 years have resulted in overlapping and unbalanced districts in which judicial resources are not efficiently allocated according to the particular needs of each district; and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the need to enact a comprehensive reform of the judicial and prosecutorial districts to further the original objective of establishing and preserving a unified court system that will promote the more efficient allocation of judicial resources in order to better serve the citizens of our State; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 7A‑41 is repealed.

SECTION 1.(b)  Article 7 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 7A‑40.5.  Judicial divisions and superior court districts; number of judges.

(a)        The counties of the State are organized into judicial divisions as follows:

Division 1: Beaufort County, Bertie County, Camden County, Chowan County, Currituck County, Dare County, Durham County, Edgecombe County, Franklin County, Gates County, Granville County, Halifax County, Hertford County, Hyde County, Martin County, Nash County, Northampton County, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County, Person County, Pitt County, Tyrrell County, Vance County, Warren County, Washington County, Wilson County.

Division 2: Bladen County, Brunswick County, Carteret County, Columbus County, Craven County, Duplin County, Greene County, Jones County, Lenoir County, New Hanover County, Onslow County, Pamlico County, Pender County, Robeson County, Sampson County, Scotland County, Wayne County.

Division 3: Anson County, Chatham County, Cumberland County, Harnett County, Hoke County, Johnston County, Lee County, Montgomery County, Moore County, Randolph County, Richmond County, Stanly County, Union County, Wake County.

Division 4: Alamance County, Alexander County, Alleghany County, Ashe County, Cabarrus County, Caswell County, Davidson County, Davie County, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Iredell County, Orange County, Rockingham County, Rowan County, Stokes County, Surry County, Wilkes County, Yadkin County.

Division 5: Avery County, Buncombe County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Catawba County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Cleveland County, Gaston County, Graham County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Macon County, Madison County, McDowell County, Mecklenburg County, Mitchell County, Polk County, Rutherford County, Swain County, Transylvania County, Watauga County, Yancey County.

(b)        For superior court, the composition of the district and the number of judges is as follows:

District 1: Camden County, Chowan County, Currituck County, Dare County, Gates County, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County.

District 2: Beaufort County, Hyde County, Martin County, Tyrrell County, Washington County.

District 3: Carteret County, Craven County, Pamlico County.

District 4: Duplin County, Jones County, Onslow County, Sampson County.

District 5: Greene County, Lenoir County, Wayne County.

District 6: Pitt County.

District 7: Edgecombe County, Nash County, Wilson County.

District 8: Bertie County, Halifax County, Hertford County, Northampton County, Warren County.

District 9: Franklin County, Granville County, Person County, Vance County.

District 10A: Wake County: VTD 01‑01, VTD 01‑02, VTD 01‑06, VTD 01‑07, VTD 01‑14, VTD 01‑16, VTD 01‑23, VTD 01‑29, VTD 01‑31, VTD 01‑32, VTD 01‑33, VTD 01‑41, VTD 01‑48, VTD 01‑49, VTD 04‑01, VTD 04‑02, VTD 04‑03, VTD 04‑04, VTD 04‑06, VTD 04‑07, VTD 04‑10, VTD 04‑11, VTD 04‑12, VTD 04‑13, VTD 04‑14, VTD 04‑15, VTD 04‑16, VTD 04‑19, VTD 04‑20, VTD 04‑21, VTD 11‑02, VTD 18‑01, VTD 18‑04, VTD 18‑06, VTD 18‑08.

District 10B: Wake County: VTD 01‑12, VTD 01‑13, VTD 01‑18, VTD 01‑19, VTD 01‑20, VTD 01‑21, VTD 01‑22, VTD 01‑25, VTD 01‑26, VTD 01‑27, VTD 01‑34, VTD 01‑35, VTD 01‑38, VTD 01‑40, VTD 01‑46, VTD 01‑50, VTD 13‑01: Block(s) 1830527043000, 1830527043023, 1830527043024, 1830540081000, 1830540081001, 1830540081002, 1830540081003, 1830540081004, 1830540081005, 1830540081006, 1830540081007, 1830540081008, 1830540081009, 1830540081010, 1830540081011, 1830540081012, 1830540081013, 1830540081014, 1830540081015, 1830540082000, 1830540082001, 1830540082002, 1830540082003, 1830540082004, 1830540082005, 1830540082006, 1830540082007, 1830540082008, 1830540082009, 1830540082010, 1830540082011, 1830540082012, 1830540082013, 1830540082014, 1830540082015, 1830540082016, 1830540083000, 1830540083001, 1830540083002, 1830540083003, 1830540083004, 1830540083005, 1830540083006, 1830540083007, 1830540083008, 1830540083009, 1830540084000, 1830540084001, 1830540084002, 1830540181012, 1830540181013, 1830540181014, 1830540181015, 1830540181016, 1830540181017, 1830540181018, 1830540181027, 1830540181033, 1830540181034, 1830541041022, 1830541041023, 1830541041024, 1830541041025, 1830541041026, 1830541041028, 1830541041030, 1830541041031, 1830541041032, 1830541041033, 1830541041039, 1830541041040, 1830541041041, 1830541041042, 1830541041043, 1830541041044, 1830541041045, 1830541041046, 1830541041047, 1830541041048, 1830541041049, 1830541041050, 1830541042000, 1830541042002, 1830541042010, 1830541042023, 1830541042024, 1830541042025, 1830541042026, 1830541042027, 1830541042029, 1830541042030, 1830541043014, 1830541043015, 1830541043016, 1830541043017, 1830541043018, 1830541043019, 1830541043045; VTD 13‑05, VTD 13‑07, VTD 16‑02, VTD 16‑03, VTD 16‑06, VTD 16‑08, VTD 17‑06, VTD 17‑07, VTD 17‑08, VTD 17‑09, VTD 17‑10, VTD 17‑11.

District 10C: Wake County: VTD 02‑01, VTD 02‑02, VTD 02‑03, VTD 02‑04, VTD 02‑05, VTD 02‑06, VTD 07‑02, VTD 07‑06, VTD 07‑07, VTD 07‑11, VTD 07‑12, VTD 08‑02, VTD 08‑03, VTD 08‑04, VTD 08‑05, VTD 08‑06, VTD 08‑07, VTD 08‑08, VTD 08‑09, VTD 08‑10, VTD 08‑11, VTD 13‑10, VTD 13‑11, VTD 14‑01, VTD 14‑02, VTD 19‑03, VTD 19‑04, VTD 19‑05, VTD 19‑06, VTD 19‑07, VTD 19‑09, VTD 19‑10, VTD 19‑11, VTD 19‑12.

District 10D: Wake County: VTD 01‑03, VTD 01‑04, VTD 01‑05, VTD 01‑09, VTD 01‑10, VTD 01‑11, VTD 01‑15, VTD 01‑17, VTD 01‑30, VTD 01‑36, VTD 01‑37, VTD 01‑39, VTD 01‑43, VTD 01‑45, VTD 01‑51, VTD 04‑05, VTD 04‑08, VTD 04‑09, VTD 04‑17, VTD 04‑18, VTD 05‑01, VTD 05‑03, VTD 05‑04, VTD 05‑05, VTD 05‑06, VTD 07‑01, VTD 07‑03, VTD 07‑04, VTD 07‑05, VTD 07‑09, VTD 07‑10, VTD 07‑13, VTD 11‑01, VTD 20‑02, VTD 20‑04, VTD 20‑10.

District 10E: Wake County: VTD 01‑28, VTD 01‑42, VTD 01‑44, VTD 01‑47, VTD 09‑01, VTD 09‑02, VTD 09‑03, VTD 10‑01, VTD 10‑02, VTD 10‑03, VTD 10‑04, VTD 13‑01: Block(s) 1830541041000, 1830541041001, 1830541041002, 1830541041003, 1830541041004, 1830541041005, 1830541041006, 1830541041007, 1830541041008, 1830541041009, 1830541041010, 1830541041011, 1830541041012, 1830541041013, 1830541041014, 1830541041015, 1830541041016, 1830541041017, 1830541041018, 1830541041019, 1830541041020, 1830541041021, 1830541042028; VTD 13‑02, VTD 13‑06, VTD 13‑08, VTD 13‑09, VTD 15‑01, VTD 15‑03, VTD 15‑04, VTD 16‑01, VTD 16‑04, VTD 16‑05, VTD 16‑07, VTD 16‑09, VTD 17‑01, VTD 17‑02, VTD 17‑03, VTD 17‑04, VTD 17‑05, VTD 19‑16, VTD 19‑17.

District 10F: Wake County: VTD 03‑00, VTD 06‑01, VTD 06‑04, VTD 06‑05, VTD 06‑06, VTD 06‑07, VTD 12‑01, VTD 12‑02, VTD 12‑04, VTD 12‑05, VTD 12‑06, VTD 12‑07, VTD 12‑08, VTD 12‑09, VTD 15‑02, VTD 18‑02, VTD 18‑03, VTD 18‑05, VTD 18‑07, VTD 20‑01, VTD 20‑03, VTD 20‑05, VTD 20‑06, VTD 20‑08, VTD 20‑09, VTD 20‑11, VTD 20‑12.

District 11: Harnett County, Johnston County, Lee County.

District 12A: New Hanover County: VTD CF01, VTD CF02, VTD CF03, VTD H01, VTD W25, VTD W27; Pender County.

District 12B: New Hanover County: VTD H02, VTD H03, VTD H04, VTD H05, VTD H06, VTD H07, VTD H08, VTD H09, VTD M02, VTD M05, VTD W13, VTD W18, VTD W24, VTD W28, VTD WB.

District 12C: New Hanover County: VTD FP01, VTD FP02, VTD FP03, VTD FP04, VTD FP05, VTD M03, VTD M04, VTD W03, VTD W08, VTD W12, VTD W15, VTD W16, VTD W17, VTD W21, VTD W26, VTD W29, VTD W30, VTD W31.

District 13: Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County.

District 14: Robeson County, Scotland County.

District 15A: Cumberland County: VTD AH49, VTD CC01, VTD CC03, VTD CC04, VTD CC05, VTD CC06, VTD CC07, VTD CC08, VTD CC10, VTD CC13, VTD CC16, VTD CC17, VTD CC19, VTD CC21, VTD CC24, VTD CC25, VTD CC26, VTD CC27, VTD CC29, VTD CC31, VTD CC32, VTD CC33, VTD CL57, VTD G1: Block(s) 0510014001000, 0510014001001, 0510014001002, 0510014001003, 0510014001004, 0510014001005, 0510014001006, 0510014001007, 0510014001008, 0510014001009, 0510014001010, 0510014001011, 0510014001012, 0510014001013, 0510014001014, 0510014001015, 0510014001016, 0510014001017, 0510014001018, 0510014001019, 0510014001020, 0510014001021, 0510014001022, 0510014001023, 0510014001024, 0510014001025, 0510014001026, 0510014001027, 0510014001028, 0510014001029, 0510014001030, 0510014001031, 0510014001032, 0510014001033, 0510014001034, 0510014001035, 0510014001036, 0510014001037, 0510014001038, 0510014001039, 0510014001040, 0510014001041, 0510014001042, 0510014001043, 0510014001044, 0510014002000, 0510014002001, 0510014002002, 0510014002003, 0510014002004, 0510014002005, 0510014002006, 0510014002007, 0510014002009, 0510014002022, 0510014002023, 0510014002024, 0510014002025, 0510014002026, 0510014002031, 0510014002032, 0510014002033, 0510014002034, 0510014002035, 0510014002036, 0510014002037, 0510014002038, 0510014002039, 0510014002040, 0510014002041, 0510014002042, 0510014002043, 0510014002044, 0510014002045, 0510014002046, 0510014002047, 0510014002048, 0510014002049, 0510014002050, 0510014002051, 0510014002052, 0510014002053, 0510014002054, 0510014002055, 0510014002056, 0510014002057, 0510014002058, 0510014002059, 0510014002060, 0510014002061, 0510014002062, 0510014002063, 0510014002064, 0510014002065, 0510014002066, 0510014002067, 0510014002068, 0510014002069, 0510014003021, 0510014003022, 0510014003023, 0510014003025, 0510014003026, 0510014003033, 0510014003034, 0510014003037, 0510014004002, 0510014004003, 0510014004004, 0510014004005, 0510014004015, 0510014004016, 0510014004017, 0510014004018, 0510014004019, 0510014004020, 0510014004021, 0510014004030, 0510014004031, 0510014004032, 0510014004033, 0510014004034, 0510014004035, 0510014004036, 0510014004037, 0510014004038, 0510014004039, 0510014004040, 0510014004041, 0510014004042, 0510014004043, 0510014004044, 0510014004049, 0510014004050, 0510014004052, 0510014004053, 0510014005014, 0510014005015, 0510014005016, 0510014005017, 0510014005018, 0510014005019, 0510014005020, 0510014005021, 0510014005022, 0510014005023, 0510014005024, 0510014005025, 0510014005026, 0510014005027, 0510014005028, 0510014005029, 0510014005030, 0510014005034, 0510014005035, 0510014005036, 0510014005037, 0510014005038, 0510014005039, 0510014005041, 0510014005046, 0510026002092, 0510026002098, 0510026002099, 0510026002100, 0510026002101, 0510026002102, 0510026002103, 0510026002113; VTD G11, VTD G3: Block(s) 0510002003046, 0510002003056, 0510002003057, 0510002003058, 0510002003059, 0510002003061, 0510002003062, 0510002003063, 0510002003064, 0510002003065, 0510002003075, 0510002003076, 0510002003077, 0510002003078, 0510002003079, 0510002003080, 0510002003081, 0510002003082, 0510002003083, 0510002003084, 0510002003085, 0510005001000, 0510005001001, 0510005001002, 0510005001003, 0510005001004, 0510005001005, 0510005001006, 0510005001007, 0510005001008, 0510005001009, 0510005001010, 0510005001011, 0510005001012, 0510005001013, 0510005001014, 0510005001015, 0510005001016, 0510005001017, 0510005001018, 0510005001019, 0510005001020, 0510005001021, 0510005001022, 0510005001023, 0510005001024, 0510005001025, 0510005001026, 0510005001027, 0510005001028, 0510005001029, 0510005001030, 0510005001031, 0510005001032, 0510005001033, 0510005001034, 0510005001035, 0510005001036, 0510005001037, 0510005001038, 0510005001039, 0510005001040, 0510005001041, 0510005002000, 0510005002001, 0510005002002, 0510005002003, 0510005002004, 0510005002005, 0510005002006, 0510005002007, 0510005002008, 0510005002009, 0510005002010, 0510005002011, 0510005002012, 0510005002013, 0510005002014, 0510005002015, 0510005002016, 0510005002017, 0510005002018, 0510005002019, 0510005002020, 0510005002021, 0510005002022, 0510005002023, 0510005002024, 0510005002025, 0510005002026, 0510005002027, 0510005002028, 0510005002029, 0510005002030, 0510005002031, 0510005002032, 0510005002033, 0510005002034, 0510005002035, 0510005002036, 0510005002037, 0510005002038, 0510005002039, 0510005002040, 0510005002041, 0510005002042, 0510005002043, 0510005002044, 0510005002045, 0510005002046, 0510005002047, 0510005002048, 0510005002049, 0510005002050, 0510005002051, 0510005002052, 0510005002053, 0510005002054, 0510005002055, 0510005002056, 0510005002057, 0510005002058, 0510005002059, 0510005003001, 0510005003002, 0510005003003, 0510005003004, 0510005003005, 0510005003006, 0510005003007, 0510005003008, 0510005003009, 0510005003010, 0510005003011, 0510005003012, 0510005003013, 0510005003014, 0510005003015, 0510005003016, 0510005003017, 0510005003018, 0510005003019, 0510005003020, 0510005003021, 0510005003022, 0510005003023, 0510005003024, 0510005003025, 0510005003026, 0510005003027, 0510005003028, 0510005003029, 0510005003030, 0510005003031, 0510005003032, 0510005003033, 0510005003034, 0510005003035, 0510005003036, 0510005003037, 0510005003038, 0510005003039, 0510005003040, 0510005003041, 0510015001000, 0510015001001, 0510015001002, 0510015001003, 0510015001004, 0510015001005, 0510015001007, 0510015001008, 0510015001088, 0510015001089, 0510015001090, 0510015001091, 0510015001092, 0510015001093, 0510015001094, 0510015001096, 0510015001097, 0510015001099, 0510015001123, 0510015001133, 0510016031000, 0510016031001, 0510016031002, 0510016031003, 0510016031004, 0510016031005, 0510016031006, 0510016031007, 0510016031008, 0510016031009, 0510016031010, 0510016031011, 0510016031012, 0510016031013, 0510016031014, 0510016031015, 0510016031016, 0510016031017, 0510016031018, 0510016031019, 0510016031020, 0510016031021, 0510016031022, 0510016031023, 0510016031024, 0510016031025, 0510016031026, 0510016031027, 0510016031028, 0510016031029, 0510016032000, 0510016032001, 0510016032002, 0510016032003, 0510016032005, 0510016032006, 0510016032007, 0510016032008, 0510016032009, 0510016032010, 0510016032011, 0510016032012, 0510016032013, 0510016032014, 0510016032015, 0510016032021, 0510016032024, 0510016032034, 0510016032045, 0510016032046, 0510016032047, 0510016032048, 0510016041000, 0510016041001, 0510016041002, 0510016041003, 0510016041004, 0510016041005, 0510016041006, 0510016041007, 0510016041008, 0510016041009, 0510016041010, 0510016041011, 0510016041012, 0510016041013, 0510016041014, 0510016041015, 0510016041016, 0510016041017, 0510016041018, 0510016041019, 0510016041020, 0510016041021, 0510016041022, 0510016041023, 0510016042000, 0510016042001, 0510016042002, 0510016042003, 0510016042004, 0510016042005, 0510016042006, 0510016042007, 0510016042008, 0510016042009, 0510016042010, 0510016042011, 0510016042012, 0510016042013, 0510016042014, 0510016042015, 0510016042016, 0510016042017, 0510016042018, 0510016042019, 0510016042020, 0510016042021, 0510016042022, 0510016043000, 0510016043001, 0510016043002, 0510016043003, 0510016043004, 0510016043005, 0510016043006, 0510016043007, 0510016043008, 0510016043009, 0510016043010, 0510016043011, 0510016043012, 0510016043013, 0510016043014, 0510016043015, 0510016043016, 0510016043017, 0510016043018, 0510016043019, 0510016043020, 0510016043021, 0510016043022, 0510016043023, 0510016043024, 0510016043025, 0510016043026, 0510016043027, 0510016043028, 0510016043029, 0510016043030, 0510016043031, 0510016043032, 0510016043033, 0510016043034, 0510016043035, 0510016043036, 0510016043037, 0510016043038, 0510016043039, 0510016043040, 0510016043041, 0510016043042, 0510016043043, 0510016043044, 0510016043045, 0510016043046, 0510016043047, 0510038003036, 0510038003037, 0510038003038, 0510038003051, 0510038003052, 0510038003053, 0510038003054, 0510038003056, 0510038003057, 0510038003058, 0510038003059; VTD G5, VTD LR63, VTD MB62, VTD MR02.

District 15B: Cumberland County: VTD AL51, VTD CC12, VTD CC14, VTD CC15, VTD CC18, VTD CC34, VTD CU02, VTD EO61‑1, VTD EO61‑2, VTD G1: Block(s) 0510014003027, 0510014003028, 0510014003029, 0510014003030, 0510014003031, 0510014003032, 0510014003036, 0510014003039, 0510014004000, 0510014004001, 0510014004006, 0510014004007, 0510014004008, 0510014004009, 0510014004010, 0510014004011, 0510014004012, 0510014004013, 0510014004014, 0510014004022, 0510014004023, 0510014004024, 0510014004025, 0510014004026, 0510014004027, 0510014004028, 0510014004029, 0510014004045, 0510014004046, 0510014004047, 0510014004048, 0510014004051, 0510014005000, 0510014005001, 0510014005002, 0510014005003, 0510014005004, 0510014005005, 0510014005006, 0510014005007, 0510014005008, 0510014005009, 0510014005010, 0510014005011, 0510014005012, 0510014005013, 0510014005031, 0510014005032, 0510014005033, 0510014005040, 0510014005042, 0510014005047, 0510014005048, 0510027003016, 0510027003018, 0510027003019, 0510027003020, 0510027003021, 0510027003022, 0510027003023, 0510027003024, 0510027003025, 0510027003026, 0510027003027, 0510027003028, 0510027003029, 0510027003030, 0510027003031, 0510027003032, 0510027003033, 0510027003034, 0510027003035, 0510027003036, 0510027003037, 0510027003038, 0510027004046, 0510027004047, 0510027004048, 0510027004049, 0510027004050, 0510027004051, 0510027004052, 0510027004053, 0510027004054, 0510028002005, 0510028002015, 0510028002016, 0510028002022, 0510028002023; VTD G10, VTD G2, VTD G3: Block(s) 0510002003045, 0510002003053, 0510002003054, 0510002003055, 0510002003060, 0510002003066, 0510002003067, 0510002003068, 0510002003069, 0510002003070, 0510002003071, 0510002003072, 0510002003073, 0510002003074, 0510002003086, 0510015001009, 0510015001010, 0510015001011, 0510015001012, 0510015001013, 0510015001014, 0510015001015, 0510015001016, 0510015001017, 0510015001018, 0510015001019, 0510015001020, 0510015001021, 0510015001022, 0510015001023, 0510015001024, 0510015001025, 0510015001026, 0510015001027, 0510015001028, 0510015001029, 0510015001030, 0510015001031, 0510015001032, 0510015001033, 0510015001034, 0510015001035, 0510015001036, 0510015001037, 0510015001038, 0510015001039, 0510015001040, 0510015001041, 0510015001042, 0510015001043, 0510015001044, 0510015001045, 0510015001046, 0510015001047, 0510015001048, 0510015001049, 0510015001050, 0510015001051, 0510015001052, 0510015001053, 0510015001054, 0510015001055, 0510015001056, 0510015001057, 0510015001058, 0510015001059, 0510015001060, 0510015001061, 0510015001062, 0510015001063, 0510015001064, 0510015001065, 0510015001066, 0510015001067, 0510015001068, 0510015001069, 0510015001070, 0510015001071, 0510015001072, 0510015001073, 0510015001074, 0510015001075, 0510015001076, 0510015001077, 0510015001078, 0510015001079, 0510015001080, 0510015001081, 0510015001082, 0510015001083, 0510015001084, 0510015001085, 0510015001086, 0510015001087, 0510015001095, 0510015001098, 0510015001100, 0510015001101, 0510015001102, 0510015001103, 0510015001104, 0510015001105, 0510015001106, 0510015001107, 0510015001108, 0510015001109, 0510015001110, 0510015001111, 0510015001112, 0510015001113, 0510015001114, 0510015001115, 0510015001116, 0510015001117, 0510015001118, 0510015001119, 0510015001120, 0510015001121, 0510015001122, 0510015001124, 0510015001125, 0510015001126, 0510015001127, 0510015001128, 0510015001129, 0510015001130, 0510015001131, 0510015001132, 0510015001134, 0510015002000, 0510015002001, 0510015002002, 0510015002003, 0510015002004, 0510015002005, 0510015002006, 0510015002008, 0510015002009, 0510015002010, 0510015002011, 0510015002012, 0510015002013, 0510015002014, 0510015002017, 0510015002018, 0510015002029, 0510015002030, 0510015002031, 0510015002032, 0510015002033, 0510015002034, 0510015002035, 0510015002036, 0510015002037, 0510015002039, 0510015002040; VTD G4, VTD G6, VTD G7, VTD G8, VTD G9, VTD LI65, VTD SH77.

District 16: Hoke County, Moore County.

District 18A: Durham County: VTD 01, VTD 02, VTD 04, VTD 19, VTD 20, VTD 21, VTD 22, VTD 23, VTD 24, VTD 25, VTD 26, VTD 28, VTD 29, VTD 37, VTD 44, VTD 45, VTD 46, VTD 50.

District 18B: Durham County: VTD 03, VTD 05, VTD 06, VTD 07, VTD 08, VTD 09, VTD 10, VTD 12, VTD 13, VTD 14, VTD 15, VTD 17, VTD 18, VTD 30‑1, VTD 30‑2, VTD 31, VTD 32, VTD 40, VTD 42, VTD 47, VTD 52, VTD 55.

District 18C: Durham County: VTD 16, VTD 27, VTD 33, VTD 34, VTD 35, VTD 36, VTD 38, VTD 39, VTD 41, VTD 43, VTD 48, VTD 51, VTD 53‑1, VTD 53‑2, VTD 54.

District 19: Orange County.

District 20: Alamance County.

District 21: Caswell County, Rockingham County.

District 22A: Guilford County: VTD FR1, VTD FR2, VTD G43, VTD G64, VTD G65, VTD G66, VTD H01, VTD H02, VTD H03, VTD H04, VTD H05, VTD H06, VTD H07, VTD H08, VTD H09, VTD H10, VTD H11, VTD H12, VTD H13, VTD H14, VTD H16, VTD H17, VTD H18, VTD H19A, VTD H19B, VTD H20A, VTD H20B, VTD H26, VTD HP.

District 22B: Guilford County: VTD G01, VTD G02, VTD G03, VTD G04, VTD G05, VTD G06, VTD G07, VTD G08, VTD G09, VTD G10, VTD G11, VTD G12, VTD G17, VTD G18, VTD G19, VTD G20, VTD G21, VTD G22, VTD G23, VTD G24, VTD G29, VTD G30, VTD G31, VTD G32, VTD G33, VTD G34, VTD G35, VTD G36, VTD G37, VTD G38, VTD G39, VTD G40A1, VTD G40B, VTD G41, VTD G42, VTD G67, VTD G68.

District 22C: Guilford County: VTD CG1, VTD CG2, VTD CG3A, VTD CG3B, VTD FR3, VTD FR4, VTD FR5, VTD G25, VTD G26, VTD G27, VTD G28, VTD G40A2, VTD H15, VTD H21, VTD H22, VTD H23, VTD H24, VTD H25, VTD H27, VTD NCGR1, VTD NCGR2, VTD NDRI, VTD OR1, VTD OR2, VTD SDRI, VTD SF1, VTD SF2, VTD SF3, VTD SF4, VTD STOK.

District 22D: Guilford County: VTD G13, VTD G14, VTD G15, VTD G16, VTD G44, VTD G45, VTD G46, VTD G47, VTD G48, VTD G49, VTD G50, VTD G51, VTD G52, VTD G53, VTD G54, VTD G55, VTD G56, VTD G57, VTD G58, VTD G59, VTD G60, VTD G61, VTD G62, VTD G63, VTD G69, VTD G70, VTD G71, VTD G72, VTD G73, VTD G74, VTD G75.

District 22E: Guilford County: VTD FEN1, VTD FEN2, VTD GIB, VTD GR, VTD JAM1, VTD JAM2, VTD JAM3, VTD JAM4, VTD JAM5, VTD JEF1, VTD JEF2, VTD JEF3, VTD JEF4, VTD MON1, VTD MON2, VTD MON3, VTD NCLAY1, VTD NCLAY2, VTD NMAD, VTD NWASH, VTD PG1, VTD PG2, VTD RC1, VTD RC2, VTD SCLAY, VTD SMAD, VTD SUM1, VTD SUM2, VTD SUM3, VTD SUM4, VTD SWASH.

District 23: Chatham County, Randolph County.

District 24: Anson County, Richmond County, Union County.

District 25: Cabarrus County.

District 26A: Mecklenburg County: VTD 001, VTD 002, VTD 003, VTD 004, VTD 005, VTD 006, VTD 007, VTD 009, VTD 010, VTD 011, VTD 012, VTD 013, VTD 014, VTD 015, VTD 016, VTD 017, VTD 020, VTD 021, VTD 022, VTD 023, VTD 024, VTD 025, VTD 026, VTD 027, VTD 028, VTD 029, VTD 030, VTD 031, VTD 033, VTD 034, VTD 035, VTD 036, VTD 037, VTD 038, VTD 039, VTD 040, VTD 041, VTD 042, VTD 043, VTD 044, VTD 045, VTD 046, VTD 050, VTD 052, VTD 053, VTD 054, VTD 055, VTD 056, VTD 058, VTD 059, VTD 060, VTD 061, VTD 062, VTD 063, VTD 064, VTD 065, VTD 066, VTD 068, VTD 077, VTD 078.1, VTD 079, VTD 080, VTD 081, VTD 082, VTD 083, VTD 084, VTD 085, VTD 089, VTD 094, VTD 095, VTD 096, VTD 097, VTD 098, VTD 099, VTD 102, VTD 104, VTD 105, VTD 106, VTD 107.1, VTD 108, VTD 109, VTD 115, VTD 116, VTD 117, VTD 120, VTD 123, VTD 124, VTD 125, VTD 126, VTD 128, VTD 130, VTD 132, VTD 135, VTD 138, VTD 141, VTD 145, VTD 146, VTD 147, VTD 149, VTD 150, VTD 151, VTD 201, VTD 203, VTD 204.1, VTD 205, VTD 210, VTD 211, VTD 212, VTD 213, VTD 214, VTD 222, VTD 228, VTD 234, VTD 235, VTD 237, VTD 238.1, VTD 239.

District 26B: Mecklenburg County: VTD 008, VTD 018, VTD 019, VTD 032, VTD 047, VTD 048, VTD 049, VTD 051, VTD 057, VTD 067, VTD 069, VTD 070, VTD 071, VTD 072, VTD 073, VTD 074, VTD 075, VTD 076, VTD 086, VTD 087, VTD 088, VTD 090, VTD 091, VTD 092, VTD 093, VTD 100, VTD 101, VTD 103, VTD 110, VTD 111, VTD 112, VTD 113, VTD 114, VTD 118, VTD 119, VTD 121, VTD 122, VTD 127, VTD 129, VTD 131, VTD 133, VTD 134, VTD 136, VTD 137, VTD 139.1, VTD 140, VTD 142, VTD 143, VTD 144, VTD 148, VTD 200, VTD 202, VTD 206, VTD 207, VTD 208, VTD 209, VTD 215, VTD 216, VTD 217, VTD 218, VTD 219, VTD 220, VTD 221, VTD 223.1, VTD 224, VTD 225, VTD 226, VTD 227, VTD 229, VTD 230, VTD 231, VTD 232, VTD 233, VTD 236, VTD 240, VTD 241, VTD 242, VTD 243.

District 27: Rowan County.

District 28: Montgomery County, Stanly County.

District 29: Davidson County, Davie County.

District 30A: Forsyth County: VTD 021, VTD 031, VTD 032, VTD 033, VTD 034, VTD 061, VTD 062, VTD 064, VTD 066, VTD 068, VTD 081, VTD 083, VTD 092, VTD 101, VTD 111, VTD 112, VTD 132, VTD 207, VTD 801, VTD 809, VTD 903, VTD 904, VTD 905, VTD 906, VTD 909.

District 30B: Forsyth County: VTD 051, VTD 055, VTD 071, VTD 072, VTD 073, VTD 074, VTD 075, VTD 091, VTD 123, VTD 131, VTD 133, VTD 702, VTD 705, VTD 706, VTD 707, VTD 708, VTD 802, VTD 803, VTD 804, VTD 805, VTD 806, VTD 807, VTD 808, VTD 907, VTD 908.

District 30C: Forsyth County: VTD 011, VTD 012, VTD 013, VTD 014, VTD 015, VTD 042, VTD 043, VTD 052, VTD 053, VTD 054, VTD 063, VTD 065, VTD 067, VTD 122, VTD 505, VTD 507, VTD 607, VTD 701, VTD 703, VTD 704, VTD 709, VTD 901, VTD 902.

District 30D: Forsyth County: VTD 082, VTD 201, VTD 203, VTD 204, VTD 205, VTD 206, VTD 301, VTD 302, VTD 303, VTD 304, VTD 305, VTD 306, VTD 401, VTD 402, VTD 403, VTD 404, VTD 405, VTD 501, VTD 502, VTD 503, VTD 504, VTD 506, VTD 601, VTD 602, VTD 603, VTD 604, VTD 605, VTD 606.

District 31: Stokes County, Surry County.

District 32: Alexander County, Iredell County.

District 33: Gaston County.

District 34: Cleveland County, Lincoln County.

District 35: Burke County, Caldwell County, Catawba County.

District 36: Alleghany County, Ashe County, Wilkes County, Yadkin County.

District 37: Avery County, Madison County, Mitchell County, Watauga County, Yancey County.

District 38: McDowell County, Rutherford County.

District 39A: Buncombe County: VTD 101.1, VTD 102.1, VTD 107.1, VTD 19.1, VTD 24.1, VTD 30.1, VTD 37.1, VTD 38.2, VTD 38.3, VTD 39.1, VTD 41.1, VTD 44.1, VTD 45.1, VTD 46.1, VTD 47.1, VTD 48.1, VTD 49.1, VTD 52.1, VTD 53.1, VTD 55.1, VTD 57.1, VTD 63.1, VTD 68.1, VTD 69.1, VTD 70.1.

District 39B: Buncombe County: VTD 01.1, VTD 02.1, VTD 03.1, VTD 04.1, VTD 05.1, VTD 06.1, VTD 07.1, VTD 09.1, VTD 10.1, VTD 100.1, VTD 103.1, VTD 104.1, VTD 105.1, VTD 106.1, VTD 11.1, VTD 12.1, VTD 13.1, VTD 14.2, VTD 15.1, VTD 17.1, VTD 20.1, VTD 25.1, VTD 26.1, VTD 28.1, VTD 31.1, VTD 32.1, VTD 33.2, VTD 33.3, VTD 34.1, VTD 35.1, VTD 36.1, VTD 50.1, VTD 58.1, VTD 59.1, VTD 60.2, VTD 61.1, VTD 62.1, VTD 64.1, VTD 65.1, VTD 66.1, VTD 67.1, VTD 71.1.

District 40: Henderson County, Polk County, Transylvania County.

District 41: Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Jackson County, Macon County, Swain County.

(c)        Each district has the number of superior court judges as set forth in the following table:

Superior Court District                                        No. of Superior Court Judges

1                                                                                   2

2                                                                                   2

3                                                                                   3

4                                                                                   2

5                                                                                   3

6                                                                                   2

7                                                                                   3

8                                                                                   2

9                                                                                   3

10A                                                                              1

10B                                                                              1

10C                                                                              1

10D                                                                              1

10E                                                                              1

10F                                                                              1

11                                                                                 3

12A                                                                              1

12B                                                                              1

12C                                                                              1

13                                                                                 3

14                                                                                 2

15A                                                                              2

15B                                                                              2

16                                                                                 2

18A                                                                              1

18B                                                                              1

18C                                                                              1

19                                                                                 1

20                                                                                 2

21                                                                                 2

22A                                                                              1

22B                                                                              1

22C                                                                              1

22D                                                                              1

22E                                                                              1

23                                                                                 2

24                                                                                 3

25                                                                                 2

26A                                                                              5

26B                                                                              3

27                                                                                 1

28                                                                                 2

29                                                                                 2

30A                                                                              1

30B                                                                              1

30C                                                                              1

30D                                                                              1

31                                                                                 2

32                                                                                 2

33                                                                                 3

34                                                                                 3

35                                                                                 4

36                                                                                 1

37                                                                                 2

38                                                                                 1

39A                                                                              1

39B                                                                              1

40                                                                                 1

41                                                                                 2

(d)       For the superior court, the following shall apply:

(1)        The qualified voters of District 4 shall elect all judges established for District 4 in subsection (c) 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.

(2)        The qualified voters of District 5 shall elect all judges established for District 5 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Wayne County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Greene or Lenoir County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Wayne, Greene, or Lenoir County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(3)        The qualified voters of District 7 shall elect all judges established for District 7 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Edgecombe County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Nash County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Wilson County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(4)        The qualified voters of District 11 shall elect all judges established for District 11 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Johnston County may be candidates for two of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Harnett or Lee County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(5)        The qualified voters of District 13 shall elect all judges established for District 13 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Brunswick County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Bladen or Columbus County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons residing in Bladen, Brunswick, or Columbus County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(6)        The qualified voters of District 35 shall elect all judges established for District 35 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Catawba County may be candidates for two of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Burke or Caldwell County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(7)        The qualified voters of District 41 shall elect all judges established for District 41 in subsection (c) of this section, but only persons who reside in Haywood or Jackson County may be candidates for one of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, or Swain County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(e)        In subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the names and boundaries of voting tabulation districts, tracts, block groups, and blocks specified in this section are as shown on the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles. If any voting tabulation district boundary is changed, that change shall not alter the boundary of a judicial district, which shall remain the same as it is depicted by the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles.

(f)        The Legislative Services Officer shall certify a true copy of the block assignment file associated with any mapping software used to generate the language in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. The certified true copy of the block assignment file shall be delivered by the Legislative Services Officer to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives. If any area within North Carolina is not assigned to a specific district by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the certified true copy of the block assignment file delivered to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives shall control.

(g)        In order to implement the division of the State into a number of judicial divisions and a convenient number of superior court districts without ending the term of office of any superior court judge elected by the people of this State on or before January 1, 2017, the following shall apply:

(1)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2019, with elections in 2018 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 1 – two judges.

b.         District 2 – one judge.

c.         District 3 – two judges.

d.         District 7 – three judges.

e.         District 9 – two judges.

f.          District 12C – one judge.

g.         District 13 – one judge, Brunswick County.

h.         District 15A – two judges.

i.          District 15B – one judge.

j.          District 16 – one judge.

k.         District 18A – one judge.

l.          District 18B – one judge.

m.        District 20 – one judge.

n.         District 22A – one judge.

o.         District 22D – one judge.

p.         District 22E – one judge.

q.         District 23 – one judge.

r.          District 24 – one judge.

s.          District 25 – one judge.

t.          District 26A – one judge.

u.         District 26B – one judge.

v.         District 27 – one judge.

w.        District 28 – one judge.

x.         District 31 – one judge.

y.         District 34 – one judge.

z.         District 35 – one judge, Burke or Caldwell County.

aa.        District 35 – one judge, Catawba County.

bb.       District 37 – one judge.

cc.        District 39A – one judge.

dd.       District 39B – one judge.

ee.        District 41 – one judge, Haywood or Jackson County.

(2)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2021, with elections in 2020 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 2 – one judge.

b.         District 4 – one judge, Duplin, Jones, or Sampson County.

c.         District 5 – one judge, Greene, Lenoir, or Wayne County.

d.         District 8 – two judges.

e.         District 9 – one judge.

f.          District 10B – one judge.

g.         District 10D – one judge.

h.         District 10E – one judge.

i.          District 11 – one judge, Harnett or Lee County.

j.          District 11 – one judge, Johnston County.

k.         District 13 – one judge.

l.          District 14 – one judge.

m.        District 15B – one judge.

n.         District 18C – one judge.

o.         District 22C – one judge.

p.         District 26A – two judges.

q.         District 30B – one judge.

r.          District 30D – one judge.

s.          District 32 – one judge.

t.          District 33 – two judges.

u.         District 34 – one judge.

v.         District 38 – one judge.

(3)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2023, with elections in 2022 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 4 – one judge, Onslow County.

b.         District 6 – one judge.

c.         District 10A – one judge.

d.         District 11 – one judge, Johnston County.

e.         District 19 – one judge.

f.          District 20 – one judge.

g.         District 21 – two judges.

h.         District 22B – one judge.

i.          District 23 – one judge.

j.          District 25 – one judge.

k.         District 26A – two judges.

l.          District 26B – two judges.

m.        District 29 – one judge.

n.         District 30C – one judge.

o.         District 33 – one judge.

p.         District 35 – one judge, Burke or Caldwell County.

q.         District 35 – one judge, Catawba County.

r.          District 36 – one judge.

s.          District 40 – one judge.

t.          District 41 – one judge, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, or Swain County.

(4)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2025, with elections in 2024 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 3 – one judge.

b.         District 5 – one judge, Greene or Lenoir County.

c.         District 5 – one judge, Wayne County.

d.         District 6 – one judge.

e.         District 10C – one judge.

f.          District 10F – one judge.

g.         District 12A – one judge.

h.         District 12B – one judge.

i.          District 13 – one judge, Bladen or Columbus County.

j.          District 14 – one judge.

k.         District 16 – one judge.

l.          District 24 – two judges.

m.        District 28 – one judge.

n.         District 29 – one judge.

o.         District 30A – one judge.

p.         District 31 – one judge.

q.         District 32 – one judge.

r.          District 34 – one judge.

s.          District 37 – one judge.

(5)        The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, acting in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court, may make assignments of any judge of the superior court from one district to another for temporary duty that may extend for the duration of an elected term beginning on or before January 1, 2017. In making such assignments, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may consider the districts, and the number of superior court judges per district, as set forth in this section.

(6)        The principle of rotating superior court judges among the various districts of a division is a salutary one and shall be observed.

(7)        In filling any vacancy in accordance with Article IV, Sec. 19 of the North Carolina Constitution, the vacancy shall be filled, and any election shall be conducted in accordance with the districts as set forth in this section. If a vacancy is created in a set of districts with an insufficient number of judges allocated to that set of districts to allow all elected judges, as of October 1, 2017, to continue to serve out the elected term and fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled."

SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 7A‑45.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑45.1.  Special judges.

(a)        Effective November 1, 1993, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serve terms expiring September 30, 2000. Effective October 1, 2000, one of those positions is abolished. Successors to the special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to a five‑year term. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.This section shall govern the appointment of special superior court judges. A special superior court judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district. The Governor may appoint a new special superior court judge upon the retirement, resignation, removal from office, death, or expiration of the term of the following current superior court judgeships:

(1)        One judge with a term expiring on March 5, 2018, and every five years thereafter.

(2)        One judge with a term expiring on May 1, 2018, and every five years thereafter.

(3)        One judge with a term expiring on May 15, 2018, and every five years thereafter.

(4)        One judge with a term expiring on January 9, 2019, and every five years thereafter.

(5)        One judge with a term expiring on July 1, 2019, and every five years thereafter.

(6)        Three judges with terms expiring on July 1, 2021, and every five years thereafter.

(7)        One judge with a term expiring on December 23, 2021, and every five years thereafter.

(8)        One judge with a term expiring on December 30, 2021, and every five years thereafter.

(9)        The two judgeships with terms expiring December 31, 2017 shall be abolished at the expiration of the terms.

(a1)      Effective October 1, 1995, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serve terms expiring September 30, 2000. Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a2)      Effective December 15, 1996, the Governor may appoint four special superior court judges to serve terms expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a3)      Effective December 15, 1998, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve a term expiring five years from the date that judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a4)      Effective October 1, 1999, the Governor may appoint four special superior court judges to serve terms expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a5)      Effective October 1, 2001, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve a term expiring five years from the date that judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a6)      Effective December 1, 2004, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve a term expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a7)      Effective January 1, 2008, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serve terms expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.

(a8)      Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the four special superior court judgeships held as of April 1, 2014, by judges whose terms expire on April 29, 2015, October 20, 2015, and December 31, 2017, and the two special superior court judgeships held as of April 1, 2015, by judges whose terms expire January 26, 2016, are abolished when any of the following first occurs:

(1)        Retirement of the incumbent judge.

(2)        Resignation of the incumbent judge.

(3)        Removal from office of the incumbent judge.

(4)        Death of the incumbent judge.

(5)        Expiration of the term of the incumbent judge.

(a9)      Effective upon the retirement, resignation, removal from office, death, or expiration of the term of the special superior court judge held as of April 1, 2014, by the judge whose term expires on April 29, 2015, a new special superior court judgeship shall be created and filled through the procedure for nomination and confirmation provided for in subsection (a10) of this section.

Prior to submitting a nominee for the judgeship created under this subsection to the General Assembly for confirmation, the Governor shall consult with the Chief Justice to ensure that the person nominated to fill this judgeship has the requisite expertise and experience to be designated by the Chief Justice as a business court judge under G.S. 7A‑45.3, and the Chief Justice is requested to designate this judge as a business court judge.

(a10)    Except for the judgeships abolished pursuant to subsection (a8) of this section, upon Upon the retirement, resignation, removal from office, death, or expiration of the term of any special superior court judge on or after September 1, 2014, each judgeship shall be filled for a full five‑year term beginning upon the judge's taking office according to the following procedure prescribed by the General Assembly pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(1) of the North Carolina Constitution. As each judgeship becomes vacant or the term expires, the Governor shall submit the name of a nominee for that judgeship to the General Assembly for confirmation by ratified joint resolution. Prior to submitting a nominee to the General Assembly for a judgeship to the business court, the Governor shall consult with the Chief Justice to ensure that the person nominated to fill this judgeship has the requisite expertise and experience to be designated by the Chief Justice as a business court judge under G.S. 7A‑45.3, and the Chief Justice is requested to designate this judge as a business court judge. Upon each such confirmation, the Governor shall appoint the confirmed nominee to that judgeship.

However, upon the failure of the Governor to submit the name of a nominee within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy or within 90 days of the expiration of the judge's term, as applicable, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives jointly shall submit the name of a nominee to the General Assembly. The appointment shall then be made by enactment of a bill. The bill shall state the name of the person being appointed, the office to which the appointment is being made, and the county of residence of the appointee.

The Governor may withdraw any nomination prior to it failing on any reading, and in case of such withdrawal the Governor shall submit a different nomination within 45 days of withdrawal. If a nomination shall fail any reading, the Governor shall submit a different nomination within 45 days of such failure. In either case of failure to submit a new nomination within 45 days, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall submit the name of a nominee to the General Assembly under the procedure provided in the preceding paragraph.

No person shall occupy a special superior court judgeship authorized under this subsection in any capacity, or have any right to, claim upon, or powers of those judgeships, unless that person's nomination has been confirmed by the General Assembly by joint resolution or appointed through the enactment of a bill upon the failure of the Governor to submit a nominee. Until confirmed by the General Assembly and appointed by the Governor, or appointed by the General Assembly upon the failure of the Governor to appoint a nominee, and qualified by taking the oath of office, a nominee is neither a de jure nor a de facto officer.

(a11)    The Chief Justice is requested, pursuant to the authority under G.S. 7A‑45.3 to designate business court judges, to maintain at least five business court judgeships from among the special superior court judgeships authorized under this section.

(b)        A special judge is subject to removal from office for the same causes and in the same manner as a regular judge of the superior court, and a vacancy occurring in the office of special judge is filled by the Governor by appointment for the unexpired term.

(c)        A special judge, in any court in which he is duly appointed to hold, has the same power and authority in all matters that a regular judge holding the same court would have. A special judge, duly assigned to hold the court of a particular county, has during the session of court in that county, in open court and in chambers, the same power and authority of a regular judge in all matters arising in the district or set of districts as defined in G.S. 7A‑41.1(a) in which that county is located, that could properly be heard or determined by a regular judge holding the same session of court.

(d)       A special judge is authorized to settle cases on appeal and to make all proper orders in regard thereto after the time for which he was commissioned has expired."

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 7A‑133(a) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 7A‑133(b) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 7A‑133(b1) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(d)  G.S. 7A‑133(b2) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(e)  G.S. 7A‑133(b3) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(f)  G.S. 7A‑133(b4) is repealed.

SECTION 2.(g)  The catch line of G.S. 7A‑133 reads as rewritten:

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

SECTION 2.(h)  Article 13 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 7A‑133.5.  District court judges; numbers and districts.

(a)        For district court, the composition of the district and the number of judges is as follows:

District 1: Camden County, Chowan County, Currituck County, Dare County, Gates County, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County.

District 2: Beaufort County, Hyde County, Martin County, Tyrrell County, Washington County.

District 3: Carteret County, Craven County, Pamlico County.

District 4: Duplin County, Jones County, Onslow County, Sampson County.

District 5: Greene County, Lenoir County, Wayne County.

District 6: Pitt County.

District 7: Edgecombe County, Nash County, Wilson County.

District 8: Bertie County, Halifax County, Hertford County, Northampton County, Warren County.

District 9: Franklin County, Granville County, Person County, Vance County.

District 10AE: Wake County: VTD 01‑01, VTD 01‑02, VTD 01‑06, VTD 01‑07, VTD 01‑14, VTD 01‑16, VTD 01‑23, VTD 01‑28, VTD 01‑29, VTD 01‑31, VTD 01‑32, VTD 01‑33, VTD 01‑41, VTD 01‑42, VTD 01‑44, VTD 01‑47, VTD 01‑48, VTD 01‑49, VTD 04‑01, VTD 04‑02, VTD 04‑03, VTD 04‑04, VTD 04‑06, VTD 04‑07, VTD 04‑10, VTD 04‑11, VTD 04‑12, VTD 04‑13, VTD 04‑14, VTD 04‑15, VTD 04‑16, VTD 04‑19, VTD 04‑20, VTD 04‑21, VTD 09‑01, VTD 09‑02, VTD 09‑03, VTD 10‑01, VTD 10‑02, VTD 10‑03, VTD 10‑04, VTD 11‑02, VTD 13‑01: Block(s) 1830541041000, 1830541041001, 1830541041002, 1830541041003, 1830541041004, 1830541041005, 1830541041006, 1830541041007, 1830541041008, 1830541041009, 1830541041010, 1830541041011, 1830541041012, 1830541041013, 1830541041014, 1830541041015, 1830541041016, 1830541041017, 1830541041018, 1830541041019, 1830541041020, 1830541041021, 1830541042028; VTD 13‑02, VTD 13‑06, VTD 13‑08, VTD 13‑09, VTD 15‑01, VTD 15‑03, VTD 15‑04, VTD 16‑01, VTD 16‑04, VTD 16‑05, VTD 16‑07, VTD 16‑09, VTD 17‑01, VTD 17‑02, VTD 17‑03, VTD 17‑04, VTD 17‑05, VTD 18‑01, VTD 18‑04, VTD 18‑06, VTD 18‑08, VTD 19‑16, VTD 19‑17.

District 10BD: Wake County: VTD 01‑03, VTD 01‑04, VTD 01‑05, VTD 01‑09, VTD 01‑10, VTD 01‑11, VTD 01‑12, VTD 01‑13, VTD 01‑15, VTD 01‑17, VTD 01‑18, VTD 01‑19, VTD 01‑20, VTD 01‑21, VTD 01‑22, VTD 01‑25, VTD 01‑26, VTD 01‑27, VTD 01‑30, VTD 01‑34, VTD 01‑35, VTD 01‑36, VTD 01‑37, VTD 01‑38, VTD 01‑39, VTD 01‑40, VTD 01‑43, VTD 01‑45, VTD 01‑46, VTD 01‑50, VTD 01‑51, VTD 04‑05, VTD 04‑08, VTD 04‑09, VTD 04‑17, VTD 04‑18, VTD 05‑01, VTD 05‑03, VTD 05‑04, VTD 05‑05, VTD 05‑06, VTD 07‑01, VTD 07‑03, VTD 07‑04, VTD 07‑05, VTD 07‑09, VTD 07‑10, VTD 07‑13, VTD 11‑01, VTD 13‑01: Block(s) 1830527043000, 1830527043023, 1830527043024, 1830540081000, 1830540081001, 1830540081002, 1830540081003, 1830540081004, 1830540081005, 1830540081006, 1830540081007, 1830540081008, 1830540081009, 1830540081010, 1830540081011, 1830540081012, 1830540081013, 1830540081014, 1830540081015, 1830540082000, 1830540082001, 1830540082002, 1830540082003, 1830540082004, 1830540082005, 1830540082006, 1830540082007, 1830540082008, 1830540082009, 1830540082010, 1830540082011, 1830540082012, 1830540082013, 1830540082014, 1830540082015, 1830540082016, 1830540083000, 1830540083001, 1830540083002, 1830540083003, 1830540083004, 1830540083005, 1830540083006, 1830540083007, 1830540083008, 1830540083009, 1830540084000, 1830540084001, 1830540084002, 1830540181012, 1830540181013, 1830540181014, 1830540181015, 1830540181016, 1830540181017, 1830540181018, 1830540181027, 1830540181033, 1830540181034, 1830541041022, 1830541041023, 1830541041024, 1830541041025, 1830541041026, 1830541041028, 1830541041030, 1830541041031, 1830541041032, 1830541041033, 1830541041039, 1830541041040, 1830541041041, 1830541041042, 1830541041043, 1830541041044, 1830541041045, 1830541041046, 1830541041047, 1830541041048, 1830541041049, 1830541041050, 1830541042000, 1830541042002, 1830541042010, 1830541042023, 1830541042024, 1830541042025, 1830541042026, 1830541042027, 1830541042029, 1830541042030, 1830541043014, 1830541043015, 1830541043016, 1830541043017, 1830541043018, 1830541043019, 1830541043045; VTD 13‑05, VTD 13‑07, VTD 16‑02, VTD 16‑03, VTD 16‑06, VTD 16‑08, VTD 17‑06, VTD 17‑07, VTD 17‑08, VTD 17‑09, VTD 17‑10, VTD 17‑11, VTD 20‑02, VTD 20‑04, VTD 20‑10.

District 10C: Wake County: VTD 02‑01, VTD 02‑02, VTD 02‑03, VTD 02‑04, VTD 02‑05, VTD 02‑06, VTD 07‑02, VTD 07‑06, VTD 07‑07, VTD 07‑11, VTD 07‑12, VTD 08‑02, VTD 08‑03, VTD 08‑04, VTD 08‑05, VTD 08‑06, VTD 08‑07, VTD 08‑08, VTD 08‑09, VTD 08‑10, VTD 08‑11, VTD 13‑10, VTD 13‑11, VTD 14‑01, VTD 14‑02, VTD 19‑03, VTD 19‑04, VTD 19‑05, VTD 19‑06, VTD 19‑07, VTD 19‑09, VTD 19‑10, VTD 19‑11, VTD 19‑12.

District 10F: Wake County: VTD 03‑00, VTD 06‑01, VTD 06‑04, VTD 06‑05, VTD 06‑06, VTD 06‑07, VTD 12‑01, VTD 12‑02, VTD 12‑04, VTD 12‑05, VTD 12‑06, VTD 12‑07, VTD 12‑08, VTD 12‑09, VTD 15‑02, VTD 18‑02, VTD 18‑03, VTD 18‑05, VTD 18‑07, VTD 20‑01, VTD 20‑03, VTD 20‑05, VTD 20‑06, VTD 20‑08, VTD 20‑09, VTD 20‑11, VTD 20‑12.

District 11: Harnett County, Johnston County, Lee County.

District 12A: New Hanover County: VTD CF01, VTD CF02, VTD CF03, VTD H01, VTD W25, VTD W27; Pender County.

District 12B: New Hanover County: VTD H02, VTD H03, VTD H04, VTD H05, VTD H06, VTD H07, VTD H08, VTD H09, VTD M02, VTD M05, VTD W13, VTD W18, VTD W24, VTD W28, VTD WB.

District 12C: New Hanover County: VTD FP01, VTD FP02, VTD FP03, VTD FP04, VTD FP05, VTD M03, VTD M04, VTD W03, VTD W08, VTD W12, VTD W15, VTD W16, VTD W17, VTD W21, VTD W26, VTD W29, VTD W30, VTD W31.

District 13: Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County.

District 14: Robeson County, Scotland County.

District 15A: Cumberland County: VTD AH49, VTD CC01, VTD CC03, VTD CC04, VTD CC05, VTD CC06, VTD CC07, VTD CC08, VTD CC10, VTD CC13, VTD CC16, VTD CC17, VTD CC19, VTD CC21, VTD CC24, VTD CC25, VTD CC26, VTD CC27, VTD CC29, VTD CC31, VTD CC32, VTD CC33, VTD CL57, VTD G1: Block(s) 0510014001000, 0510014001001, 0510014001002, 0510014001003, 0510014001004, 0510014001005, 0510014001006, 0510014001007, 0510014001008, 0510014001009, 0510014001010, 0510014001011, 0510014001012, 0510014001013, 0510014001014, 0510014001015, 0510014001016, 0510014001017, 0510014001018, 0510014001019, 0510014001020, 0510014001021, 0510014001022, 0510014001023, 0510014001024, 0510014001025, 0510014001026, 0510014001027, 0510014001028, 0510014001029, 0510014001030, 0510014001031, 0510014001032, 0510014001033, 0510014001034, 0510014001035, 0510014001036, 0510014001037, 0510014001038, 0510014001039, 0510014001040, 0510014001041, 0510014001042, 0510014001043, 0510014001044, 0510014002000, 0510014002001, 0510014002002, 0510014002003, 0510014002004, 0510014002005, 0510014002006, 0510014002007, 0510014002009, 0510014002022, 0510014002023, 0510014002024, 0510014002025, 0510014002026, 0510014002031, 0510014002032, 0510014002033, 0510014002034, 0510014002035, 0510014002036, 0510014002037, 0510014002038, 0510014002039, 0510014002040, 0510014002041, 0510014002042, 0510014002043, 0510014002044, 0510014002045, 0510014002046, 0510014002047, 0510014002048, 0510014002049, 0510014002050, 0510014002051, 0510014002052, 0510014002053, 0510014002054, 0510014002055, 0510014002056, 0510014002057, 0510014002058, 0510014002059, 0510014002060, 0510014002061, 0510014002062, 0510014002063, 0510014002064, 0510014002065, 0510014002066, 0510014002067, 0510014002068, 0510014002069, 0510014003021, 0510014003022, 0510014003023, 0510014003025, 0510014003026, 0510014003033, 0510014003034, 0510014003037, 0510014004002, 0510014004003, 0510014004004, 0510014004005, 0510014004015, 0510014004016, 0510014004017, 0510014004018, 0510014004019, 0510014004020, 0510014004021, 0510014004030, 0510014004031, 0510014004032, 0510014004033, 0510014004034, 0510014004035, 0510014004036, 0510014004037, 0510014004038, 0510014004039, 0510014004040, 0510014004041, 0510014004042, 0510014004043, 0510014004044, 0510014004049, 0510014004050, 0510014004052, 0510014004053, 0510014005014, 0510014005015, 0510014005016, 0510014005017, 0510014005018, 0510014005019, 0510014005020, 0510014005021, 0510014005022, 0510014005023, 0510014005024, 0510014005025, 0510014005026, 0510014005027, 0510014005028, 0510014005029, 0510014005030, 0510014005034, 0510014005035, 0510014005036, 0510014005037, 0510014005038, 0510014005039, 0510014005041, 0510014005046, 0510026002092, 0510026002098, 0510026002099, 0510026002100, 0510026002101, 0510026002102, 0510026002103, 0510026002113; VTD G11, VTD G3: Block(s) 0510002003046, 0510002003056, 0510002003057, 0510002003058, 0510002003059, 0510002003061, 0510002003062, 0510002003063, 0510002003064, 0510002003065, 0510002003075, 0510002003076, 0510002003077, 0510002003078, 0510002003079, 0510002003080, 0510002003081, 0510002003082, 0510002003083, 0510002003084, 0510002003085, 0510005001000, 0510005001001, 0510005001002, 0510005001003, 0510005001004, 0510005001005, 0510005001006, 0510005001007, 0510005001008, 0510005001009, 0510005001010, 0510005001011, 0510005001012, 0510005001013, 0510005001014, 0510005001015, 0510005001016, 0510005001017, 0510005001018, 0510005001019, 0510005001020, 0510005001021, 0510005001022, 0510005001023, 0510005001024, 0510005001025, 0510005001026, 0510005001027, 0510005001028, 0510005001029, 0510005001030, 0510005001031, 0510005001032, 0510005001033, 0510005001034, 0510005001035, 0510005001036, 0510005001037, 0510005001038, 0510005001039, 0510005001040, 0510005001041, 0510005002000, 0510005002001, 0510005002002, 0510005002003, 0510005002004, 0510005002005, 0510005002006, 0510005002007, 0510005002008, 0510005002009, 0510005002010, 0510005002011, 0510005002012, 0510005002013, 0510005002014, 0510005002015, 0510005002016, 0510005002017, 0510005002018, 0510005002019, 0510005002020, 0510005002021, 0510005002022, 0510005002023, 0510005002024, 0510005002025, 0510005002026, 0510005002027, 0510005002028, 0510005002029, 0510005002030, 0510005002031, 0510005002032, 0510005002033, 0510005002034, 0510005002035, 0510005002036, 0510005002037, 0510005002038, 0510005002039, 0510005002040, 0510005002041, 0510005002042, 0510005002043, 0510005002044, 0510005002045, 0510005002046, 0510005002047, 0510005002048, 0510005002049, 0510005002050, 0510005002051, 0510005002052, 0510005002053, 0510005002054, 0510005002055, 0510005002056, 0510005002057, 0510005002058, 0510005002059, 0510005003001, 0510005003002, 0510005003003, 0510005003004, 0510005003005, 0510005003006, 0510005003007, 0510005003008, 0510005003009, 0510005003010, 0510005003011, 0510005003012, 0510005003013, 0510005003014, 0510005003015, 0510005003016, 0510005003017, 0510005003018, 0510005003019, 0510005003020, 0510005003021, 0510005003022, 0510005003023, 0510005003024, 0510005003025, 0510005003026, 0510005003027, 0510005003028, 0510005003029, 0510005003030, 0510005003031, 0510005003032, 0510005003033, 0510005003034, 0510005003035, 0510005003036, 0510005003037, 0510005003038, 0510005003039, 0510005003040, 0510005003041, 0510015001000, 0510015001001, 0510015001002, 0510015001003, 0510015001004, 0510015001005, 0510015001007, 0510015001008, 0510015001088, 0510015001089, 0510015001090, 0510015001091, 0510015001092, 0510015001093, 0510015001094, 0510015001096, 0510015001097, 0510015001099, 0510015001123, 0510015001133, 0510016031000, 0510016031001, 0510016031002, 0510016031003, 0510016031004, 0510016031005, 0510016031006, 0510016031007, 0510016031008, 0510016031009, 0510016031010, 0510016031011, 0510016031012, 0510016031013, 0510016031014, 0510016031015, 0510016031016, 0510016031017, 0510016031018, 0510016031019, 0510016031020, 0510016031021, 0510016031022, 0510016031023, 0510016031024, 0510016031025, 0510016031026, 0510016031027, 0510016031028, 0510016031029, 0510016032000, 0510016032001, 0510016032002, 0510016032003, 0510016032005, 0510016032006, 0510016032007, 0510016032008, 0510016032009, 0510016032010, 0510016032011, 0510016032012, 0510016032013, 0510016032014, 0510016032015, 0510016032021, 0510016032024, 0510016032034, 0510016032045, 0510016032046, 0510016032047, 0510016032048, 0510016041000, 0510016041001, 0510016041002, 0510016041003, 0510016041004, 0510016041005, 0510016041006, 0510016041007, 0510016041008, 0510016041009, 0510016041010, 0510016041011, 0510016041012, 0510016041013, 0510016041014, 0510016041015, 0510016041016, 0510016041017, 0510016041018, 0510016041019, 0510016041020, 0510016041021, 0510016041022, 0510016041023, 0510016042000, 0510016042001, 0510016042002, 0510016042003, 0510016042004, 0510016042005, 0510016042006, 0510016042007, 0510016042008, 0510016042009, 0510016042010, 0510016042011, 0510016042012, 0510016042013, 0510016042014, 0510016042015, 0510016042016, 0510016042017, 0510016042018, 0510016042019, 0510016042020, 0510016042021, 0510016042022, 0510016043000, 0510016043001, 0510016043002, 0510016043003, 0510016043004, 0510016043005, 0510016043006, 0510016043007, 0510016043008, 0510016043009, 0510016043010, 0510016043011, 0510016043012, 0510016043013, 0510016043014, 0510016043015, 0510016043016, 0510016043017, 0510016043018, 0510016043019, 0510016043020, 0510016043021, 0510016043022, 0510016043023, 0510016043024, 0510016043025, 0510016043026, 0510016043027, 0510016043028, 0510016043029, 0510016043030, 0510016043031, 0510016043032, 0510016043033, 0510016043034, 0510016043035, 0510016043036, 0510016043037, 0510016043038, 0510016043039, 0510016043040, 0510016043041, 0510016043042, 0510016043043, 0510016043044, 0510016043045, 0510016043046, 0510016043047, 0510038003036, 0510038003037, 0510038003038, 0510038003051, 0510038003052, 0510038003053, 0510038003054, 0510038003056, 0510038003057, 0510038003058, 0510038003059; VTD G5, VTD LR63, VTD MB62, VTD MR02.

District 15B: Cumberland County: VTD AL51, VTD CC12, VTD CC14, VTD CC15, VTD CC18, VTD CC34, VTD CU02, VTD EO61‑1, VTD EO61‑2, VTD G1: Block(s) 0510014003027, 0510014003028, 0510014003029, 0510014003030, 0510014003031, 0510014003032, 0510014003036, 0510014003039, 0510014004000, 0510014004001, 0510014004006, 0510014004007, 0510014004008, 0510014004009, 0510014004010, 0510014004011, 0510014004012, 0510014004013, 0510014004014, 0510014004022, 0510014004023, 0510014004024, 0510014004025, 0510014004026, 0510014004027, 0510014004028, 0510014004029, 0510014004045, 0510014004046, 0510014004047, 0510014004048, 0510014004051, 0510014005000, 0510014005001, 0510014005002, 0510014005003, 0510014005004, 0510014005005, 0510014005006, 0510014005007, 0510014005008, 0510014005009, 0510014005010, 0510014005011, 0510014005012, 0510014005013, 0510014005031, 0510014005032, 0510014005033, 0510014005040, 0510014005042, 0510014005047, 0510014005048, 0510027003016, 0510027003018, 0510027003019, 0510027003020, 0510027003021, 0510027003022, 0510027003023, 0510027003024, 0510027003025, 0510027003026, 0510027003027, 0510027003028, 0510027003029, 0510027003030, 0510027003031, 0510027003032, 0510027003033, 0510027003034, 0510027003035, 0510027003036, 0510027003037, 0510027003038, 0510027004046, 0510027004047, 0510027004048, 0510027004049, 0510027004050, 0510027004051, 0510027004052, 0510027004053, 0510027004054, 0510028002005, 0510028002015, 0510028002016, 0510028002022, 0510028002023; VTD G10, VTD G2, VTD G3: Block(s) 0510002003045, 0510002003053, 0510002003054, 0510002003055, 0510002003060, 0510002003066, 0510002003067, 0510002003068, 0510002003069, 0510002003070, 0510002003071, 0510002003072, 0510002003073, 0510002003074, 0510002003086, 0510015001009, 0510015001010, 0510015001011, 0510015001012, 0510015001013, 0510015001014, 0510015001015, 0510015001016, 0510015001017, 0510015001018, 0510015001019, 0510015001020, 0510015001021, 0510015001022, 0510015001023, 0510015001024, 0510015001025, 0510015001026, 0510015001027, 0510015001028, 0510015001029, 0510015001030, 0510015001031, 0510015001032, 0510015001033, 0510015001034, 0510015001035, 0510015001036, 0510015001037, 0510015001038, 0510015001039, 0510015001040, 0510015001041, 0510015001042, 0510015001043, 0510015001044, 0510015001045, 0510015001046, 0510015001047, 0510015001048, 0510015001049, 0510015001050, 0510015001051, 0510015001052, 0510015001053, 0510015001054, 0510015001055, 0510015001056, 0510015001057, 0510015001058, 0510015001059, 0510015001060, 0510015001061, 0510015001062, 0510015001063, 0510015001064, 0510015001065, 0510015001066, 0510015001067, 0510015001068, 0510015001069, 0510015001070, 0510015001071, 0510015001072, 0510015001073, 0510015001074, 0510015001075, 0510015001076, 0510015001077, 0510015001078, 0510015001079, 0510015001080, 0510015001081, 0510015001082, 0510015001083, 0510015001084, 0510015001085, 0510015001086, 0510015001087, 0510015001095, 0510015001098, 0510015001100, 0510015001101, 0510015001102, 0510015001103, 0510015001104, 0510015001105, 0510015001106, 0510015001107, 0510015001108, 0510015001109, 0510015001110, 0510015001111, 0510015001112, 0510015001113, 0510015001114, 0510015001115, 0510015001116, 0510015001117, 0510015001118, 0510015001119, 0510015001120, 0510015001121, 0510015001122, 0510015001124, 0510015001125, 0510015001126, 0510015001127, 0510015001128, 0510015001129, 0510015001130, 0510015001131, 0510015001132, 0510015001134, 0510015002000, 0510015002001, 0510015002002, 0510015002003, 0510015002004, 0510015002005, 0510015002006, 0510015002008, 0510015002009, 0510015002010, 0510015002011, 0510015002012, 0510015002013, 0510015002014, 0510015002017, 0510015002018, 0510015002029, 0510015002030, 0510015002031, 0510015002032, 0510015002033, 0510015002034, 0510015002035, 0510015002036, 0510015002037, 0510015002039, 0510015002040; VTD G4, VTD G6, VTD G7, VTD G8, VTD G9, VTD LI65, VTD SH77.

District 16: Hoke County, Moore County.

District 18A: Durham County: VTD 01, VTD 02, VTD 04, VTD 19, VTD 20, VTD 21, VTD 22, VTD 23, VTD 24, VTD 25, VTD 26, VTD 28, VTD 29, VTD 37, VTD 44, VTD 45, VTD 46, VTD 50.

District 18B: Durham County: VTD 03, VTD 05, VTD 06, VTD 07, VTD 08, VTD 09, VTD 10, VTD 12, VTD 13, VTD 14, VTD 15, VTD 17, VTD 18, VTD 30‑1, VTD 30‑2, VTD 31, VTD 32, VTD 40, VTD 42, VTD 47, VTD 52, VTD 55.

District 18C: Durham County: VTD 16, VTD 27, VTD 33, VTD 34, VTD 35, VTD 36, VTD 38, VTD 39, VTD 41, VTD 43, VTD 48, VTD 51, VTD 53‑1, VTD 53‑2, VTD 54.

District 19: Orange County.

District 20: Alamance County.

District 21: Caswell County, Rockingham County.

District 22A: Guilford County: VTD FR1, VTD FR2, VTD G43, VTD G64, VTD G65, VTD G66, VTD H01, VTD H02, VTD H03, VTD H04, VTD H05, VTD H06, VTD H07, VTD H08, VTD H09, VTD H10, VTD H11, VTD H12, VTD H13, VTD H14, VTD H16, VTD H17, VTD H18, VTD H19A, VTD H19B, VTD H20A, VTD H20B, VTD H26, VTD HP.

District 22B: Guilford County: VTD G01, VTD G02, VTD G03, VTD G04, VTD G05, VTD G06, VTD G07, VTD G08, VTD G09, VTD G10, VTD G11, VTD G12, VTD G17, VTD G18, VTD G19, VTD G20, VTD G21, VTD G22, VTD G23, VTD G24, VTD G29, VTD G30, VTD G31, VTD G32, VTD G33, VTD G34, VTD G35, VTD G36, VTD G37, VTD G38, VTD G39, VTD G40A1, VTD G40B, VTD G41, VTD G42, VTD G67, VTD G68.

District 22C: Guilford County: VTD CG1, VTD CG2, VTD CG3A, VTD CG3B, VTD FR3, VTD FR4, VTD FR5, VTD G25, VTD G26, VTD G27, VTD G28, VTD G40A2, VTD H15, VTD H21, VTD H22, VTD H23, VTD H24, VTD H25, VTD H27, VTD NCGR1, VTD NCGR2, VTD NDRI, VTD OR1, VTD OR2, VTD SDRI, VTD SF1, VTD SF2, VTD SF3, VTD SF4, VTD STOK.

District 22D: Guilford County: VTD G13, VTD G14, VTD G15, VTD G16, VTD G44, VTD G45, VTD G46, VTD G47, VTD G48, VTD G49, VTD G50, VTD G51, VTD G52, VTD G53, VTD G54, VTD G55, VTD G56, VTD G57, VTD G58, VTD G59, VTD G60, VTD G61, VTD G62, VTD G63, VTD G69, VTD G70, VTD G71, VTD G72, VTD G73, VTD G74, VTD G75.

District 22E: Guilford County: VTD FEN1, VTD FEN2, VTD GIB, VTD GR, VTD JAM1, VTD JAM2, VTD JAM3, VTD JAM4, VTD JAM5, VTD JEF1, VTD JEF2, VTD JEF3, VTD JEF4, VTD MON1, VTD MON2, VTD MON3, VTD NCLAY1, VTD NCLAY2, VTD NMAD, VTD NWASH, VTD PG1, VTD PG2, VTD RC1, VTD RC2, VTD SCLAY, VTD SMAD, VTD SUM1, VTD SUM2, VTD SUM3, VTD SUM4, VTD SWASH.

District 23: Chatham County, Randolph County.

District 24: Anson County, Richmond County, Union County.

District 25: Cabarrus County.

District 26A: Mecklenburg County: VTD 001, VTD 002, VTD 003, VTD 004, VTD 005, VTD 006, VTD 007, VTD 009, VTD 010, VTD 011, VTD 012, VTD 013, VTD 014, VTD 015, VTD 016, VTD 017, VTD 020, VTD 021, VTD 022, VTD 023, VTD 024, VTD 025, VTD 026, VTD 027, VTD 028, VTD 029, VTD 030, VTD 031, VTD 033, VTD 034, VTD 035, VTD 036, VTD 037, VTD 038, VTD 039, VTD 040, VTD 041, VTD 042, VTD 043, VTD 044, VTD 045, VTD 046, VTD 050, VTD 052, VTD 053, VTD 054, VTD 055, VTD 056, VTD 058, VTD 059, VTD 060, VTD 061, VTD 062, VTD 063, VTD 064, VTD 065, VTD 066, VTD 068, VTD 077, VTD 078.1, VTD 079, VTD 080, VTD 081, VTD 082, VTD 083, VTD 084, VTD 085, VTD 089, VTD 094, VTD 095, VTD 096, VTD 097, VTD 098, VTD 099, VTD 102, VTD 104, VTD 105, VTD 106, VTD 107.1, VTD 108, VTD 109, VTD 115, VTD 116, VTD 117, VTD 120, VTD 123, VTD 124, VTD 125, VTD 126, VTD 128, VTD 130, VTD 132, VTD 135, VTD 138, VTD 141, VTD 145, VTD 146, VTD 147, VTD 149, VTD 150, VTD 151, VTD 201, VTD 203, VTD 204.1, VTD 205, VTD 210, VTD 211, VTD 212, VTD 213, VTD 214, VTD 222, VTD 228, VTD 234, VTD 235, VTD 237, VTD 238.1, VTD 239.

District 26B: Mecklenburg County: VTD 008, VTD 018, VTD 019, VTD 032, VTD 047, VTD 048, VTD 049, VTD 051, VTD 057, VTD 067, VTD 069, VTD 070, VTD 071, VTD 072, VTD 073, VTD 074, VTD 075, VTD 076, VTD 086, VTD 087, VTD 088, VTD 090, VTD 091, VTD 092, VTD 093, VTD 100, VTD 101, VTD 103, VTD 110, VTD 111, VTD 112, VTD 113, VTD 114, VTD 118, VTD 119, VTD 121, VTD 122, VTD 127, VTD 129, VTD 131, VTD 133, VTD 134, VTD 136, VTD 137, VTD 139.1, VTD 140, VTD 142, VTD 143, VTD 144, VTD 148, VTD 200, VTD 202, VTD 206, VTD 207, VTD 208, VTD 209, VTD 215, VTD 216, VTD 217, VTD 218, VTD 219, VTD 220, VTD 221, VTD 223.1, VTD 224, VTD 225, VTD 226, VTD 227, VTD 229, VTD 230, VTD 231, VTD 232, VTD 233, VTD 236, VTD 240, VTD 241, VTD 242, VTD 243.

District 27: Rowan County.

District 28: Montgomery County, Stanly County.

District 29: Davidson County, Davie County.

District 30A: Forsyth County: VTD 021, VTD 031, VTD 032, VTD 033, VTD 034, VTD 061, VTD 062, VTD 064, VTD 066, VTD 068, VTD 081, VTD 083, VTD 092, VTD 101, VTD 111, VTD 112, VTD 132, VTD 207, VTD 801, VTD 809, VTD 903, VTD 904, VTD 905, VTD 906, VTD 909.

District 30B: Forsyth County: VTD 051, VTD 055, VTD 071, VTD 072, VTD 073, VTD 074, VTD 075, VTD 091, VTD 123, VTD 131, VTD 133, VTD 702, VTD 705, VTD 706, VTD 707, VTD 708, VTD 802, VTD 803, VTD 804, VTD 805, VTD 806, VTD 807, VTD 808, VTD 907, VTD 908.

District 30C: Forsyth County: VTD 011, VTD 012, VTD 013, VTD 014, VTD 015, VTD 042, VTD 043, VTD 052, VTD 053, VTD 054, VTD 063, VTD 065, VTD 067, VTD 122, VTD 505, VTD 507, VTD 607, VTD 701, VTD 703, VTD 704, VTD 709, VTD 901, VTD 902.

District 30D: Forsyth County: VTD 082, VTD 201, VTD 203, VTD 204, VTD 205, VTD 206, VTD 301, VTD 302, VTD 303, VTD 304, VTD 305, VTD 306, VTD 401, VTD 402, VTD 403, VTD 404, VTD 405, VTD 501, VTD 502, VTD 503, VTD 504, VTD 506, VTD 601, VTD 602, VTD 603, VTD 604, VTD 605, VTD 606.

District 31: Stokes County, Surry County.

District 32: Alexander County, Iredell County.

District 33: Gaston County.

District 34: Cleveland County, Lincoln County.

District 35: Burke County, Caldwell County, Catawba County.

District 36: Alleghany County, Ashe County, Wilkes County, Yadkin County.

District 37: Avery County, Madison County, Mitchell County, Watauga County, Yancey County.

District 38: McDowell County, Rutherford County.

District 39A: Buncombe County: VTD 101.1, VTD 102.1, VTD 107.1, VTD 19.1, VTD 24.1, VTD 30.1, VTD 37.1, VTD 38.2, VTD 38.3, VTD 39.1, VTD 41.1, VTD 44.1, VTD 45.1, VTD 46.1, VTD 47.1, VTD 48.1, VTD 49.1, VTD 52.1, VTD 53.1, VTD 55.1, VTD 57.1, VTD 63.1, VTD 68.1, VTD 69.1, VTD 70.1.

District 39B: Buncombe County: VTD 01.1, VTD 02.1, VTD 03.1, VTD 04.1, VTD 05.1, VTD 06.1, VTD 07.1, VTD 09.1, VTD 10.1, VTD 100.1, VTD 103.1, VTD 104.1, VTD 105.1, VTD 106.1, VTD 11.1, VTD 12.1, VTD 13.1, VTD 14.2, VTD 15.1, VTD 17.1, VTD 20.1, VTD 25.1, VTD 26.1, VTD 28.1, VTD 31.1, VTD 32.1, VTD 33.2, VTD 33.3, VTD 34.1, VTD 35.1, VTD 36.1, VTD 50.1, VTD 58.1, VTD 59.1, VTD 60.2, VTD 61.1, VTD 62.1, VTD 64.1, VTD 65.1, VTD 66.1, VTD 67.1, VTD 71.1.

District 40: Henderson County, Polk County, Transylvania County.

District 41: Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Jackson County, Macon County, Swain County.

(b)        Each district has the number of district court judges as set forth in the following table:

District Court District                                      No. of District Court Judges

1                                                                              5

2                                                                              4

3                                                                              6

4                                                                              9

5                                                                              6

6                                                                              5

7                                                                              7

8                                                                              5

9                                                                              6

10AE                                                                       6

10BD                                                                      6

10C                                                                         4

10F                                                                          4

11                                                                           12

12A                                                                         3

12B                                                                         3

12C                                                                         3

13                                                                            7

14                                                                            7

15A                                                                         5

15B                                                                         5

16                                                                            4

18A                                                                         2

18B                                                                         2

18C                                                                         3

19                                                                            4

20                                                                            5

21                                                                            4

22A                                                                         3

22B                                                                         3

22C                                                                         3

22D                                                                         3

22E                                                                          3

23                                                                            6

24                                                                            7

25                                                                            6

26A                                                                        12

26B                                                                         9

27                                                                            5

28                                                                            3

29                                                                            6

30A                                                                         3

30B                                                                         3

30C                                                                         3

30D                                                                         3

31                                                                            4

32                                                                            6

33                                                                            7

34                                                                            6

35                                                                           10

36                                                                            5

37                                                                            4

38                                                                            4

39A                                                                         4

39B                                                                         3

40                                                                            5

41                                                                            6

(c)        For district court, the following shall apply:

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

(2)        The qualified voters of District 11 shall elect all judges established for District 11 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Johnston County may be candidates for seven of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Harnett or Lee County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(3)        The qualified voters of District 13 shall elect all judges established for District 13 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Brunswick County may be candidates for three of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Columbus County may be candidates for two of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Bladen County may be candidates for one of the judgeships, and only persons who reside in Bladen, Brunswick, or Columbus County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(4)        The qualified voters of District 24 shall elect all judges established for District 24 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Anson or Richmond County may be candidates for two of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Anson, Richmond, or Union County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(5)        The qualified voters of District 28 shall elect all judges established for District 28 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Stanly County may be candidates for two of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Montgomery County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(6)        The qualified voters of District 29 shall elect all judges established for District 29 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Davidson County may be candidates for four of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Davie County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(7)        The qualified voters of District 32 shall elect all judges established for District 32 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Iredell County may be candidates for four of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Alexander County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(8)        The qualified voters of District 35 shall elect all judges established for District 35 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Burke or Caldwell County may be candidates for two of the judgeships and only persons who reside in Burke, Caldwell, or Catawba County may be candidates for the remaining judgeships.

(9)        The qualified voters of District 36 shall elect all judges established for District 36 in subsection (b) of this section, but only persons who reside in Wilkes County may be candidates for three of the judgeships, only persons who reside in Yadkin County may be candidates for one of the judgeship, and only persons who reside in Alleghany or Ashe County may be candidates for the remaining judgeship.

(d)       In subsection (a) of this section, the names and boundaries of voting tabulation districts, tracts, block groups, and blocks specified in this section are as shown on the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles. If any voting tabulation district boundary is changed, that change shall not alter the boundary of a judicial district, which shall remain the same as it is depicted by the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles.

(e)        The Legislative Services Officer shall certify a true copy of the block assignment file associated with any mapping software used to generate the language in subsection (a) of this section. The certified true copy of the block assignment file shall be delivered by the Legislative Services Officer to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives. If any area within North Carolina is not assigned to a specific district by subsection (a) of this section, the certified true copy of the block assignment file delivered to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives shall control.

(f)        In order to implement the division of the State into a convenient number of district court districts without ending the term of office of any district court judge elected by the people of this State on or before January 1, 2017, the following shall apply:

(1)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2019, with elections in 2018 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 1 – three judges.

b.         District 2 – two judges.

c.         District 4 – two judges, Onslow County.

d.         District 4 – one judge, Duplin, Jones, or Sampson County.

e.         District 5 – one judge.

f.          District 6 – two judges.

g.         District 7 – two judges.

h.         District 8 – one judge.

i.          District 10AE – four judges.

j.          District 10BD – one judge.

k.         District 10C – one judge.

l.          District 10F – two judges.

m.        District 11 – two judges, Harnett or Lee County.

n.         District 11 – two judges, Johnston County.

o.         District 12A – two judges.

p.         District 12B – two judges.

q.         District 13 – one judge, Brunswick County.

r.          District 13 – one judge, Columbus County.

s.          District 13 – one judge.

t.          District 14 – four judges.

u.         District 15A – four judges.

v.         District 15B – three judges.

w.        District 16 – three judges.

x.         District 18A – two judges.

y.         District 18B – two judges.

z.         District 18C – two judges.

aa.        District 19 – one judge.

bb.       District 20 – one judge.

cc.        District 21 – two judges.

dd.       District 22A – two judges.

ee.        District 22C – one judge.

ff.        District 23 – three judges.

gg.       District 24 – one judge, Anson or Richmond County.

hh.       District 25 – five judges.

ii.         District 26A – five judges.

jj.         District 26B – four judges.

kk.       District 27 – four judges.

ll.         District 28 – three judges.

mm.     District 29 – six judges.

nn.       District 30B – two judges.

oo.       District 30D – two judges.

pp.       District 31 – three judges.

qq.       District 32 – two judges, Iredell County.

rr.         District 33 – two judges.

ss.        District 34 – one judge.

tt.         District 35 – one judge, Burke or Caldwell County.

uu.       District 35 – seven judges.

vv.       District 36 – one judge, Alleghany or Ashe County.

ww.     District 36 – three judges, Wilkes County.

xx.       District 37 – one judge.

yy.       District 38 – three judges.

zz.        District 39A – three judges.

aaa.      District 39B – two judges.

bbb.     District 40 – one judge.

ccc.      District 41 – three judges.

(2)        Judges in the following districts, as set out in this section, shall take office on January 1, 2021, with elections in 2020 to be held accordingly:

a.         District 1 – two judges.

b.         District 2 – two judges.

c.         District 3 – six judges.

d.         District 4 – three judges, Onslow County.

e.         District 4 – three judges, Duplin, Jones, or Sampson County.

f.          District 5 – five judges.

g.         District 6 – three judges.

h.         District 7 – five judges.

i.          District 8 – four judges.

j.          District 9 – six judges.

k.         District 10AE – two judges.

l.          District 10BD – five judges.

m.        District 10C – three judges.

n.         District 10F – two judges.

o.         District 11 – three judges, Harnett or Lee County.

p.         District 11 – five judges, Johnston County.

q.         District 12A – one judge.

r.          District 12B – one judge.

s.          District 12C – three judges.

t.          District 13 – one judge, Bladen County.

u.         District 13 – two judges, Brunswick County.

v.         District 13 – one judge, Columbus County.

w.        District 14 – three judges.

x.         District 15A – one judge.

y.         District 15B – two judges.

z.         District 16 – one judge.

aa.        District 18C – one judge.

bb.       District 19 – three judges.

cc.        District 20 – four judges.

dd.       District 21 – two judges.

ee.        District 22A – one judge.

ff.        District 22B – three judges.

gg.       District 22C – two judges.

hh.       District 22D – three judges.

ii.         District 22E – three judges.

jj.         District 23 – three judges.

kk.       District 24 – one judge, Anson or Richmond County.

ll.         District 24 – five judges, Anson, Richmond, or Union County.

mm.     District 25 – one judge.

nn.       District 26A – seven judges.

oo.       District 26B – five judges.

pp.       District 27 – one judge.

qq.       District 30A – three judges.

rr.         District 30B – one judge.

ss.        District 30C – three judges.

tt.         District 30D – one judge.

uu.       District 31 – one judge.

vv.       District 32 – two judges, Alexander County.

ww.     District 32 – two judges, Iredell County.

xx.       District 33 – five judges.

yy.       District 34 – five judges.

zz.        District 35 – one judge, Burke or Caldwell County.

aaa.      District 35 – one judge.

bbb.     District 36 – one judge, Yadkin County.

ccc.      District 37 – three judges.

ddd.    District 38 – one judge.

eee.      District 39A – one judge.

fff.       District 39B – one judge.

ggg.     District 40 – four judges.

hhh.     District 41 – three judges.

(3)        The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, acting in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court, may make assignments of any judge of the district court from one district to another for temporary duty that may extend for the duration of an elected term beginning on or before January 1, 2017. In making such assignments, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may consider the districts, and the number of district court judges per district, as set forth in this section.

(4)        In filling a vacancy, the Governor shall fill the vacancy in accordance with the districts, and the number of district court judges per district, as set forth in this section. If a vacancy is created in a district with an insufficient number of judges allocated to that district to allow all elected judges to continue to serve and fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall not be filled."

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 7A‑60 is repealed.

SECTION 3.(b)  Article 9 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 7A‑60.5.  District attorneys and prosecutorial districts.

(a)        The counties of the State are organized into prosecutorial districts, for which one district attorney shall be elected who shall be a resident of the prosecutorial district for which elected. Each prosecutorial district has the following counties:

District 1: Camden County, Chowan County, Currituck County, Dare County, Gates County, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County.

District 2: Beaufort County, Hyde County, Martin County, Tyrrell County, Washington County.

District 3: Carteret County, Craven County, Pamlico County.

District 4: Duplin County, Jones County, Onslow County, Sampson County.

District 5: Greene County, Lenoir County, Wayne County.

District 6: Pitt County.

District 7: Edgecombe County, Nash County, Wilson County.

District 8: Bertie County, Halifax County, Hertford County, Northampton County, Warren County.

District 9: Franklin County, Granville County, Person County, Vance County.

District 10: Wake County.

District 11: Johnston County.

District 12: New Hanover County, Pender County.

District 13: Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County.

District 14: Robeson County, Scotland County.

District 15: Cumberland County.

District 16: Hoke County, Moore County.

District 17: Harnett County, Lee County.

District 18: Durham County.

District 19: Orange County.

District 20: Alamance County.

District 21: Caswell County, Rockingham County.

District 22: Guilford County.

District 23: Chatham County, Randolph County.

District 24: Union County.

District 25: Cabarrus County.

District 26: Mecklenburg County.

District 27: Rowan County.

District 28: Montgomery County, Stanly County.

District 29: Davidson County, Davie County.

District 30: Forsyth County.

District 31: Stokes County, Surry County.

District 32: Alexander County, Iredell County.

District 33: Gaston County.

District 34: Cleveland County, Lincoln County.

District 35: Burke County, Caldwell County.

District 36: Alleghany County, Ashe County, Wilkes County, Yadkin County.

District 37: Avery County, Madison County, Mitchell County, Watauga County, Yancey County.

District 38: McDowell County, Rutherford County.

District 39: Buncombe County.

District 40: Henderson County, Polk County, Transylvania County.

District 41: Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Jackson County, Macon County, Swain County.

District 42: Anson County, Richmond County.

District 43: Catawba County.

(b)        Each district has the number of full‑time assistant district attorneys set forth in the following table:

Prosecutorial District                                           No. of Full‑Time Asst. District Attorneys

1                                                                                          11

2                                                                                            8

3                                                                                          13

4                                                                                          20

5                                                                                          15

6                                                                                          13

7                                                                                          20

8                                                                                          12

9                                                                                          15

10                                                                                        45

11                                                                                        10

12                                                                                        19

13                                                                                        15

14                                                                                        15

15                                                                                        26

16                                                                                          8

17                                                                                        13

18                                                                                        19

19                                                                                          7

20                                                                                        12

21                                                                                        10

22                                                                                        36

23                                                                                        13

24                                                                                        11

25                                                                                        11

26                                                                                        62

27                                                                                          9

28                                                                                          6

29                                                                                        12

30                                                                                        28

31                                                                                          8

32                                                                                        12

33                                                                                        16

34                                                                                        13

35                                                                                        11

36                                                                                          9

37                                                                                          8

38                                                                                          8

39                                                                                        14

40                                                                                        10

41                                                                                        14

42                                                                                          6

43                                                                                        11

(c)        In subsection (a) of this section, the names and boundaries of counties specified in this section are as shown on the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles. If any county boundary is changed, that change shall alter the boundary of a judicial district.

(d)       The Legislative Services Officer shall certify a true copy of the block assignment file associated with any mapping software used to generate the language in subsection (a) of this section. The certified true copy of the block assignment file shall be delivered by the Legislative Services Officer to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives. If any area within North Carolina is not assigned to a specific district by subsection (a) of this section, the certified true copy of the block assignment file delivered to the Principal Clerk of the Senate and the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives shall control.

(e)        A vacancy in the office of district attorney shall be filled as provided in Section 19 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution."

SECTION 3.(c)  G.S. 7A‑63 reads as rewritten:

"§ 7A‑63.  Assistant district attorneys.

Each district attorney shall be entitled to the number of full‑time assistant district attorneys set out in this Subchapter, such number to be developed by the General Assembly after consulting the workload formula established through the National Center for State Courts, Subchapter to be appointed by the district attorney, to serve at the district attorney's pleasure. A vacancy in the office of assistant district attorney shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment. An assistant district attorney shall take the same oath of office as the district attorney, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the district attorney. The district attorney shall devote full time to the duties of the office and shall not engage in the private practice of law during his or her term."

SECTION 3.(d)  Notwithstanding G.S. 7A‑60 and G.S. 7A‑60.5, as enacted by this section, if a vacancy occurs in the office of district attorney that began on or before January 1, 2017, and the district to which that district attorney was elected no longer exists under G.S. 7A‑60.5, as enacted by this section, the vacancy shall not be filled in order to implement the districts as set out in this section.

SECTION 3.(e)  The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 20 formerly consisting of Robeson County is extended to expire on December 31, 2020, and no election shall be held in 2018.

SECTION 3.(f)  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 14 or District 16, as enacted by this section. Hoke County is added to District 16, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is eight. Scotland County is added to District 14 and the total number of ADAs in that district is 15.

SECTION 3.(g)  The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 18 formerly consisting of Orange and Chatham Counties is terminated upon the expiration of the current term, December 31, 2018. Effective January 1, 2019, District 18 formerly consisting of Orange and Chatham Counties is reassigned as provided in this section. All open investigations and pending cases for Prosecutorial District 18 formerly consisting of Orange and Chatham Counties shall be transferred to either District 19 or District 23, as enacted by this section. Orange County is added to District 19, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is seven. Chatham County is added to District 23, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is 13.

SECTION 3.(h)  The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 26 formerly consisting of Montgomery and Randolph Counties is terminated upon the expiration of the current term, December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2019, District 26 formerly consisting of Montgomery and Randolph Counties is reassigned as provided in this section. All open investigations and pending cases for Prosecutorial District 26 formerly consisting of Montgomery and Randolph Counties shall be transferred to either District 23 or District 28, as enacted by this section. Montgomery County is District 28, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is six. Randolph County is added to District 23, as enacted by this section, and the total number of ADAs in that district is 13.

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 163‑165.5(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 of Elections. 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. 163‑106 or G.S. 163‑323, or on petition forms filed in accordance with G.S. 163‑122. 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 of Elections. 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 of Elections 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 and in nonpartisan ballot items as required by G.S. 163‑323(h).

(5)        A means by which the voter may cast write‑in votes, as provided in G.S. 163‑123. No space for write‑ins is required unless a write‑in candidate has qualified under G.S. 163‑123 or unless the ballot item is exempt from G.S. 163‑123.

(6)        Instructions to voters, unless the State Board of Elections 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, if there are two or more vacancies for an elected office. 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. 163‑106, as amended by Section 21(a) of S.L. 2016‑125 and Section 5 of S.L. 2017‑3, reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑106.  Notices of candidacy; pledge; with whom filed; date for filing; withdrawal.

…

(d)       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 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 of Elections 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 of Elections 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 subsection.

…."

SECTION 5.  The Administrative Office of the Courts, the Courts Commission, and the Legislative Services Commission shall study and determine quantifiable workload assessments, by county, for prosecutorial, district, and superior courts to assist the General Assembly in dividing the State into a convenient number of districts and divisions for the administration of the judicial branch. The Courts Commission shall make a report to the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly on or before December 15, 2018, with any recommendations of the study.

SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2019, and, except as provided in this act, elections in 2018 and thereafter shall be held accordingly.