Governor Veto Threatens Judicial Independence | Durham News

Governor Josh Stein is poised to veto a controversial bill that would grant the state’s chief justice unprecedented power to suspend trial judges without pay during investigations — a move he says threatens judicial independence. Citing that no other state’s chief justice holds such authority, Stein argues this power should not rest with the chief justice, drawing parallels to how legislative and executive leaders can’t suspend their own peers. Though the bill includes a recommendation process by the Judicial Standards Commission, Stein decries it as toothless, since commission appointments are heavily influenced by the chief justice and lawmakers. The debate pits proponents, who say it’s needed for lengthy misconduct investigations, against critics — including legal experts — who fear abuse and harm to judges’ rights, especially given many complaints originate from criminal defendants. With the legislature adjourned until November, overriding the veto will require Republican supermajority in the Senate plus at least one Democrat or independent in the House — a tall order. This latest clash is part of a broader trend reshaping North Carolina’s judicial system, from election rules to retirement ages, fueling ongoing tensions over who controls the courts. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/33c29ce4e6ba2ae6