CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES TO BE HEARD BY THREE-JUDGE PANEL

Beginning in September, 2014, all constitutional challenges to North Carolina laws will be heard by a three-judge panel, appointed by the state Supreme Court.  The North Carolina General Assembly purports to be motivated by its desire to limit “judge shopping” by Plaintiffs and stem the tide of what the General Assembly believes is judicial activism.  The North Carolina Bar Association, who opposed the bill, has concerns that the newly created judicial panels will limit the public’s ability to challenge legislative acts and may not be constitutional itself.  The highly contested and controversial bill was signed into law by Governor McCrory on August 7, 2014, as part of the budget bill.  To read more, click here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/08/16/4074408/three-judge-panel-system-could.html