Governor Stein Vetoes House Bill 377

Today Governor Stein vetoed House Bill 377.

Governor Stein made the following statement on vetoing House Bill 377:

"This bill would have a chilling effect on judicial independence by giving the Chief Justice authority to suspend trial judges without pay, a power no other Chief Justice in the country has. 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. Just as the respective leadership in each legislative chamber does not have the power to suspend duly elected legislators, and just as the Governor does not have the power to suspend an elected member of the Council of State, the Chief Justice should not have the power to suspend a trial judge elected by the people. Judges should be able to do their jobs without fear that the Chief Justice may deprive them of their livelihood. The small role the bill reserves for the Judicial Standards Commission is cold comfort, given that the Chief Justice and legislative leadership control nearly all of its appointments.

"For thirteen years, the General Assembly has repeatedly played politics with the judiciary, including taking all four of the nonpartisan State Bar's appointments to the Judicial Standards Commission for itself. It needs to stop politicizing our courts. An independent judiciary is critical to protecting the rule of law and the rights of all North Carolinians. I will always stand up for the people of North Carolina. Therefore, I veto this bill."