H325 - Judicial Appointment/Voter Confirmation

• Amends North Carolina Constitution to replace elected appellate justices and judges with gubernatorial appointment system, effective June 1, 2012

• Requires confirmation elections for appointed Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges during the first general election after serving at least 24 months, and every 8 years thereafter by majority vote

• Changes Supreme Court from Chief Justice plus six Associate Justices to seven Justices total, with Chief Justice selected by Governor from among justices for six-year terms (not through election)

• Suspends 2012 candidate filing for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals pending May 8, 2012 referendum on constitutional amendments; if rejected, conducts special 2012 election under plurality rules

• Establishes statutory framework in G.S. Chapter 7A for gubernatorial appointments and voter confirmation elections, and removes appellate judges from elected judicial office provisions in G.S. Chapter 163