Bill > H656

This bill splits the existing District Court District 43 and Defender District 43 into two separate districts: District 43A and District 43B, with specific changes to county assignments. District 43A will now include Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, and Swain counties, while District 43B will include Haywood and Jackson counties. The bill includes appropriations from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to support this reorganization, specifically allocating funds for hiring a new district court judge for District 43B (approximately $253,001 in recurring funds and $10,376 in nonrecurring funds), providing an additional salary for the chief district court judge ($7,421 in recurring funds), hiring a judicial assistant ($71,932 in recurring funds and $3,436 in nonrecurring funds), and establishing a new public defender infrastructure for District 43B, including a chief public defender (approximately $228,461 in recurring funds and $4,895 in nonrecurring funds) and three assistant public defenders (approximately $424,488 in recurring funds and $14,685 in nonrecurring funds). The changes to the district court judges will become effective January 1, 2027, with elections in 2026 reflecting the new district boundaries, while most other provisions become effective July 1, 2026.

Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H656