RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The idea of giving some North Carolina appellate court judges the option to run for re-election without facing a challenger is gaining traction at the legislature.
A Senate committee voted Wednesday to give people who initially joined the state Supreme Court in a traditional election the ability to stand for a retention election the next time they’re scheduled on the ballot.
The bill goes to the full Senate for debate Thursday. The House passed a version that would have covered Supreme Court and Court of Appeals members.
Only the incumbent’s name would be on the ballot. A judge gets re-elected for eight years if a majority votes for the judge. Otherwise, the judge steps down, and the governor would fill the vacancy with someone else for up to two years.
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