H240 - GA Appoint for District Court Vacancies

• Transfers authority to fill district court judge vacancies from the Governor to the General Assembly, citing Section 10 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution.

• Requires the bar of each judicial district to nominate five qualified attorneys and residents of that district within 15 business days of a vacancy, with no minimum requirement if fewer candidates are available.

• Authorizes the General Assembly to appoint district judges by bill when in session, with the appointment bill stating the appointee's name, office, effective date, term expiration, and county of residence.

• Allows the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate to jointly submit a nominee to the Governor when the General Assembly is not in session, requiring the Governor to appoint within 10 days or the nomination is deemed approved.

• Specifies the General Assembly is not bound by bar nominations and the Governor cannot appoint anyone other than the jointly recommended candidate during interim appointments.