Stein vetoes bill giving chief justice suspension power over trial judges
The governor said House Bill 377 would threaten judicial independence by allowing the chief justice to suspend trial judges without pay.
RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein vetoed House Bill 377 on Monday, rejecting legislation that he said would give the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court too much power over trial judges.
Stein’s office said the bill would authorize the chief justice to suspend trial judges without pay. In his veto statement, Stein said the power would have a “chilling effect on judicial independence.”
The governor argued that most North Carolina judges are elected and that removing judges from office should primarily be decided by voters, not by another judicial official.
“North Carolina voters elect the vast majority of our judges in our state, and removing judges from their posts should first and foremost be determined by the people,” Stein said.
Stein also criticized the bill’s structure for involving the Judicial Standards Commission, saying the commission would not provide enough of a check because the chief justice and legislative leaders control most appointments to it.
The veto adds another dispute to a long-running fight over judicial authority, court administration and legislative control of state institutions. Stein accused the General Assembly of politicizing the courts and said judicial independence is necessary to protect the rule of law and the rights of North Carolinians.
House Bill 377 now returns to the General Assembly, where lawmakers may consider an override.
The governor’s veto message did not summarize every provision in the bill, focusing instead on the proposed suspension authority and its effect on trial judges. Stein framed the issue as one of separation of powers and democratic accountability.
Judicial administration has become a recurring state policy issue in recent years, including changes involving the courts, the Judicial Standards Commission and the structure of judicial authority. The veto ensures that debate will continue as lawmakers decide whether to revisit the measure.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
