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Governor Josh Stein Vetoes Bill Granting Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby Sweeping Judicial Powers

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein vetoed House Bill 377 on Monday, a measure that would have granted Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby the authority to censure, publicly reprimand, suspend, or remove judges at his discretion. The bill would have allowed Newby to suspend trial court judges without pay while under investigation, a power Stein noted is held by no other chief justice in the country. Stein argued that the bill threatened judicial independence by allowing a single official to potentially punish judges for their political views or rulings. He emphasized that because the vast majority of North Carolina judges are elected by the people, the power to remove them should remain with the voters. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Destin Hall, defended the bill as a necessary tool to hold "reckless" judges accountable, particularly those who release violent felons on bail. While the bill is not dead, the Republican-controlled legislature has the opportunity to override the governor's veto if they can secure enough Democratic support.

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