GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE BILL DRH40260-ST-25   (03/07)

Short Title:      Person/Caswell Sup/Dst/DA Changes.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Lewis and Stevens (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to make changes to the prosecutorial district in person and caswell counties.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 7A‑41(a) reads as rewritten:

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

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

                  Superior

Judicial            Court                                                                                       No. of Resident

Division           District                        Counties                                                     Judges

_____________________________________________________________________________

First                        1                           Camden, Chowan,                                              2

                                                            Currituck,

                                                            Dare, Gates,

                                                            Pasquotank,

                                                            Perquimans

First                        2                           Beaufort, Hyde,                                                  1

                                                            Martin,

                                                            Tyrrell, Washington

First                     3A                           Pitt                                                                       2

Second                 3B                           Carteret, Craven,                                                 3

                                                            Pamlico

Second                4A                           Duplin, Jones,                                                      1

                                                            Sampson

Second                 4B                           Onslow                                                                1

Second                5A                           (part of New Hanover,                                        1

                                                            part of Pender

                                                            see subsection (b))

                             5B                           (part of New Hanover,                                        1

                                                            part of Pender

                                                            see subsection (b))

                             5C                           (part of New Hanover,                                        1

                                                            see subsection (b))

First                     6A                           Halifax                                                                1

First                     6B                           Bertie, Hertford,                                                 1

                                                            Northampton

First                     7A                           Nash                                                                    1

First                     7B                           (part of Wilson,                                                   1

                                                            part of Edgecombe,

                                                            see subsection (b))

First                     7C                           (part of Wilson,                                                   1

                                                            part of Edgecombe,

                                                            see subsection (b))

Second                8A                           Lenoir and Greene                                              1

Second                 8B                           Wayne                                                                 1

Third                       9                           Franklin, Granville,                                             2

                                                            Vance, Warren

Third 9A Person, Caswell 1

Third                  10A                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  10B                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  10C                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  10D                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  10E                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  10F                           (part of Wake,                                                     1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fourth                11A                           Harnett,                                                               1

                                                            Lee

Fourth                11B                           Johnston                                                              1

Fourth                12A                           (part of Cumberland,                                           1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fourth                12B                           (part of Cumberland,                                           1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fourth                12C                           (part of Cumberland,                                           2

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fourth                13A                           Bladen, Columbus                                               1

Fourth                13B                           Brunswick                                                           1

Third                  14A                           (part of Durham,                                                 1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  14B                           (part of Durham,                                                 3

                                                            see subsection (b))

Third                  15A                           Alamance                                                            2

Third                  15B                           Orange, Chatham                                                2

Fourth                16A                           Anson, Richmond,

                                                            Scotland, Hoke                                                   2

Fourth                16B                           Robeson                                                              2

Fifth                  17A                           Caswell, Person, Rockingham                           23

Fifth                   17B                           Stokes, Surry                                                       2

Fifth                  18A                           (part of Guilford,                                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                   18B                           (part of Guilford,                                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                   18C                           (part of Guilford,                                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                  18D                           (part of Guilford,                                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                   18E                           (part of Guilford,                                                1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Sixth                  19A                           Cabarrus                                                              1

Fifth                   19B                           Montgomery, Randolph                                      1

Sixth                  19C                           Rowan                                                                 1

Fourth                19D                           Moore                                                                  1

Sixth                  20A                           Stanly                                                                  1

Sixth                  20B                           Union                                                                  2

Fifth                  21A                           (part of Forsyth,                                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                   21B                           (part of Forsyth,                                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                   21C                           (part of Forsyth,                                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Fifth                  21D                           (part of Forsyth,                                                  1

                                                            see subsection (b))

Sixth                  22A                           Alexander, Iredell                                               2

Sixth                  22B                           Davidson, Davie                                                 2

Fifth                     23                           Alleghany, Ashe,                                                 1

                                                            Wilkes, Yadkin

Eighth                   24                           Avery, Madison,                                                 2

                                                            Mitchell,

                                                            Watauga, Yancey

Seventh             25A                           Burke, Caldwell                                                  2

Seventh              25B                           Catawba                                                              2

Seventh             26A                           (part of Mecklenburg,                                         2

                                                            see subsection (b))

Seventh              26B                           (part of Mecklenburg,                                         3

                                                            see subsection (b))

Seventh              26C                           (part of Mecklenburg,                                         2

                                                            see subsection (b))

Seventh             27A                           Gaston                                                                 2

Seventh              27B                           Cleveland, Lincoln                                              2

Eighth                   28                           Buncombe                                                           2

Eighth                29A                           McDowell,                                                          1

                                                            Rutherford

Eighth                29B                           Henderson, Polk,                                                 1

                                                            Transylvania

Eighth                30A                           Cherokee, Clay,                                                   1

                                                            Graham, Macon,

                                                            Swain

Eighth                30B                           Haywood, Jackson                                              1."

SECTION 1.(b)  In order to implement the changes in this section, the Superior Court judgeship serving District 9A shall be allocated to Judicial District 17A of the Superior Court of the General Court of Justice effective January 1, 2019.

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

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

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

District                              Judges                                                 County

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

1                                      5                                                      Camden

                                                                                                Chowan

                                                                                                Currituck

                                                                                                Dare

                                                                                                Gates

                                                                                                Pasquotank

                                                                                                Perquimans

2                                      4                                                      Martin

                                                                                                Beaufort

                                                                                                Tyrrell

                                                                                                Hyde

                                                                                                Washington

3A                                   5                                                      Pitt

3B                                   6                                                      Craven

                                                                                                Pamlico

                                                                                                Carteret

4                                      8                                                      Sampson

                                                                                                Duplin

                                                                                                Jones

                                                                                                Onslow

5                                      9                                                      New Hanover

                                                                                                Pender

6                                      4                                                      Northampton

                                                                                                Bertie

                                                                                                Hertford

                                                                                                Halifax

7                                      7                                                      Nash

                                                                                                Edgecombe

                                                                                                Wilson

8                                      6                                                      Wayne

                                                                                                Greene

                                                                                                Lenoir

9                                      4                                                      Granville

                                                                                                (part of Vance

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

                                                                                                Franklin

9A 2 Person

Caswell

9B                                   2                                                      Warren

                                                                                                (part of Vance

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

10                                  19                                                      Wake

11                                  11                                                      Harnett

                                                                                                Johnston

                                                                                                Lee

12                                  10                                                      Cumberland

13                                    6                                                      Bladen

                                                                                                Brunswick

                                                                                                Columbus

14                                    7                                                      Durham

15A                                 4                                                      Alamance

15B                                 5                                                      Orange

                                                                                                Chatham

16A                                 6                                                      Scotland

                                                                                                Hoke

                                                                                                Anson

                                                                                                Richmond

16B                                 5                                                      Robeson

17A                               35 Caswell

Person

                                                                                                Rockingham

17B                                 4                                                      Stokes

                                                                                                Surry

18                                  14                                                      Guilford

19A                                 5                                                      Cabarrus

19B                                 7                                                      Montgomery

                                                                                                Moore

                                                                                                Randolph

19C                                 5                                                      Rowan

20A                                 2                                                      Stanly

20B                                 1                                                      (part of Union

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

20C                                 2                                                      (part of Union

                                                                                                see subsection (b))

20D                                 1                                                      Union

21                                  11                                                      Forsyth

22A                                 5                                                      Alexander

                                                                                                Iredell

22B                                 6                                                      Davidson

                                                                                                Davie

23                                    4                                                      Alleghany

                                                                                                Ashe

                                                                                                Wilkes

                                                                                                Yadkin

24                                    4                                                      Avery

                                                                                                Madison

                                                                                                Mitchell

                                                                                                Watauga

                                                                                                Yancey

25                                    9                                                      Burke

                                                                                                Caldwell

                                                                                                Catawba

26                                  21                                                      Mecklenburg

27A                                 7                                                      Gaston

27B                                 6                                                      Cleveland

                                                                                                Lincoln

28                                    7                                                      Buncombe

29A                                 3                                                      McDowell

                                                                                                Rutherford

29B                                 4                                                      Henderson

                                                                                                Polk

                                                                                                Transylvania

30                                    6                                                      Cherokee

                                                                                                Clay

                                                                                                Graham

                                                                                                Haywood

                                                                                                Jackson

                                                                                                Macon

                                                                                                Swain.

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

(1)        District Court District 9 consists of Franklin and Granville Counties and the remainder of Vance County not in District Court District 9B.

(2)        District Court District 9B consists of Warren County and East Henderson I, North Henderson I, North Henderson II, Middleburg, Townsville, and Williamsboro Precincts VTD EH1, VTD MIDD, VTD NH1, VTD NH2, VTD TWNS, VTD WMSB of Vance County.

(3)        District Court District 20C consists of the remainder of Union County not in District Court District 20B.

(4)        District Court District 20B consists of Precinct 01: Tract 204.01: Block Group 2: Block 2040, Block 2057, Block 2058, Block 2060, Block 2061, Block 2062, Block 2064, Block 2065; Tract 204.02: Block Group 2: Block 2001, Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2004, Block 2005, Block 2006, Block 2007, Block 2008, Block 2009, Block 2010, Block 2011, Block 2012, Block 2013, Block 2014, Block 2015, Block 2016, Block 2017, Block 2018, Block 2023, Block 2024, Block 2025, Block 2026, Block 2027, Block 2028, Block 2029, Block 2030, Block 2031, Block 2032, Block 2033, Block 2034; Block Group 3: Block 3000, Block 3003, Block 3004, Block 3005, Block 3006, Block 3007, Block 3008, Block 3009, Block 3010, Block 3011, Block 3012, Block 3013, Block 3014, Block 3015, Block 3016, Block 3017, Block 3018, Block 3019, Block 3020, Block 3021, Block 3022, Block 3023, Block 3024, Block 3025, Block 3026, Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033, Block 3034, Block 30 35, Block 3036, Block 3037, Block 3038, Block 3039, Block 3040, Block 3041, Block 3042, Block 3043, Block 3044, Block 3045, Block 3046, Block 3047; Block Group 4: Block 4035, Block 4054, Block 4055; Precinct 02: Tract 205: Block Group 1: Block 1000, Block 1001, Block 1002, Block 1003, Block 1004, Block 1005, Block 1006, Block 1007, Block 1009, Block 1010, Block 1011, Block 1012, Block 1013, Block 1014, Block 1015, Block 1016, Block 1017, Block 1018, Block 1019, Block 1020, Block 1021, Block 1022, Block 1023, Block 1037, Block 1038; Block Group 2: Block 2081, Block 2082, Block 2092, Block 2099, Block 2100, Block 2101, Block 2102; Tract 206: Block Group 3: Block 3036, Block 3038, Block 3039, Block 3040, Block 3048; Block Group 4: Block 4053; Precinct 03, Precinct 04, Precinct 06: Tract 202.02: Block Group 1: Block 1012, Block 1013, Block 1014, Block 1015, Block 1017, Block 1018, Block 1021, Block 1022, Block 1023; Tract 204.01: Block Group 2: Block 2000, Block 2001, Block 2002, Block 200 3, Block 2004, Block 2005, Block 2033, Block 2034, Block 2035, Block 2036, Block 2041, Block 2042, Block 2043, Block 2044, Block 2045, Block 2056, Block 2063, Block 2999; Precinct 08, Precinct 09, Precinct 10, Precinct 13, Precinct 23: Tract 206: Block Group 4: Block 4051; Precinct 25: Tract 206: Block Group 4: Block 4036; Precinct 34, Precinct 36, Precinct 43 of Union County.

The names and boundaries of voting tabulation districts specified for Vance County in this section are as shown on the 2010 Census Redistricting TIGER/Line Shapefiles. Precinct boundaries as used in this section for Vance County are those shown on maps on file with the Legislative Services Office on May 1, 1991, for Union County, are those shown on the Legislative Services Office's redistricting computer database on January 1, 2005; and for other counties are those reported by the United States Bureau of the Census under Public Law 94‑171 for the 1990 Census in the IVTD Version of the TIGER files.

…."

SECTION 2.(b)  In order to implement the changes in this section, the District Court judgeships serving District 9A shall be allocated to Judicial District 17A of the General Court of Justice effective January 1, 2019.

SECTION 2.(c)  In order to implement the changes in this section, the district court judge serving a term from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, in District 9A, notwithstanding G.S. 7A‑4.20, may continue to serve until December 31, 2018. No official action performed by that judge of Judicial District 9A of the district court division of the General Court of Justice shall be declared to be invalid by reason of the fact that the judge was beyond the mandatory retirement age set out in G.S. 7A‑4.20 at the time of performing any such act; provided, this exception shall only apply to those official actions performed on or before December 31, 2018.

SECTION 3.  G.S. 7A‑60(a1) reads as rewritten:

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

No. of Full‑Time

Prosecutorial                                                                                                    Asst. District

District                                         Counties                                                   Attorneys

1                               Camden, Chowan, Currituck,                                             11

Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

Perquimans

2                               Beaufort, Hyde, Martin,                                                       8

Tyrrell, Washington

3A                            Pitt                                                                                      11

3B                            Carteret, Craven, Pamlico                                                   12

4                               Duplin, Jones, Onslow,                                                       18

Sampson

5                               New Hanover, Pender                                                        18

6                               Bertie, Halifax, Hertford,                                                   10

Northampton

7                               Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson                                                  18

8                               Greene, Lenoir, Wayne                                                       14

9                               Franklin, Granville,                                                             10

                                 Vance, Warren                                                                       

9A                            Person, Caswell                                                                   65

10                             Wake                                                                                   41

11A                          Harnett, Lee                                                                      911

11B                          Johnston                                                                              10

12                             Cumberland                                                                        23

13                             Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus                                           13

14                             Durham                                                                               18

15A                          Alamance                                                                            11

15B                          Orange, Chatham                                                                10

16A                          Scotland, Hoke                                                                     7

16B                          Robeson                                                                              12

16C                          Anson, Richmond                                                                 6

17A                          Rockingham                                                                        76

17B                          Stokes, Surry                                                                         8

18                             Guilford                                                                              32

19A                          Cabarrus                                                                                9

19B                          Montgomery, Randolph                                                        9

19C                          Rowan                                                                                   8

19D                          Moore                                                                                    5

20A                                                                                                                        5

                                 Stanly

20B                          Union                                                                                  10

21                             Forsyth                                                                                25

22A                          Alexander, Iredell                                                               11

22B                          Davidson, Davie                                                                 11

23                             Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes,                                                     8

                                 Yadkin

24                             Avery, Madison, Mitchell,                                                    7

                                 Watauga, Yancey

25                             Burke, Caldwell, Catawba                                                  18

26                             Mecklenburg                                                                       58

27A                          Gaston                                                                                 14

27B                          Cleveland,                                                                           11

                                 Lincoln

28                             Buncombe                                                                           14

29A                          McDowell, Rutherford                                                         7

29B                          Henderson, Polk, Transylvania                                             8

30                             Cherokee, Clay, Graham,                                                    10

                                 Haywood, Jackson, Macon,

                                 Swain."

SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2017.

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 7A‑60, as amended by Section 3 of this act, reads as rewritten:

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

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

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

No. of Full‑Time

Prosecutorial                                                                                                    Asst. District

District                                         Counties                                                   Attorneys

1                               Camden, Chowan, Currituck,                                             11

Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

Perquimans

2                               Beaufort, Hyde, Martin,                                                       8

Tyrrell, Washington

3A                            Pitt                                                                                      11

3B                            Carteret, Craven, Pamlico                                                   12

4                               Duplin, Jones, Onslow,                                                       18

Sampson

5                               New Hanover, Pender                                                        18

6                               Bertie, Halifax, Hertford,                                                   10

Northampton

7                               Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson                                                  18

8                               Greene, Lenoir, Wayne                                                       14

9                               Franklin, Granville,                                                             10

                                 Vance, Warren                                                                       

9A Person, Caswell 5

10                             Wake                                                                                   41

11A                          Harnett, Lee                                                                    1112

11B                          Johnston                                                                              10

12                             Cumberland                                                                        23

13                             Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus                                           13

14                             Durham                                                                               18

15A                          Alamance                                                                            11

15B                          Orange, Chatham                                                                10

16A                          Scotland, Hoke                                                                     7

16B                          Robeson                                                                              12

16C                          Anson, Richmond                                                                 6

17A                          Caswell, Person, Rockingham                                          610

17B                          Stokes, Surry                                                                         8

18                             Guilford                                                                              32

19A                          Cabarrus                                                                                9

19B                          Montgomery, Randolph                                                        9

19C                          Rowan                                                                                   8

19D                          Moore                                                                                    5

20A                                                                                                                        5

                                 Stanly

20B                          Union                                                                                  10

21                             Forsyth                                                                                25

22A                          Alexander, Iredell                                                               11

22B                          Davidson, Davie                                                                 11

23                             Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes,                                                     8

                                 Yadkin

24                             Avery, Madison, Mitchell,                                                    7

                                 Watauga, Yancey

25                             Burke, Caldwell, Catawba                                                  18

26                             Mecklenburg                                                                       58

27A                          Gaston                                                                                 14

27B                          Cleveland,                                                                           11

                                 Lincoln

28                             Buncombe                                                                           14

29A                          McDowell, Rutherford                                                         7

29B                          Henderson, Polk, Transylvania                                             8

30                             Cherokee, Clay, Graham,                                                    10

                                 Haywood, Jackson, Macon,

                                 Swain.

...

(d) The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 9A formerly consisting of Person and Caswell Counties are allocated to Prosecutorial District 17A, as defined by subsection (a1) of this section, effective January 1, 2019."

SECTION 4.(b)  This section becomes effective January 1, 2019, and elections in 2018 shall be conducted in accordance with the districts as modified by this section.

SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.