NC H241

Changes appointment authority for special superior court judges from the Governor to the General Assembly, effective for judges holding office on or after January 1, 2017.

General Assembly may appoint special superior court judges to five-year terms when an incumbent judge retires, resigns, is removed, dies, or the term expires.

Removes the Governor's previous authority to nominate judges for General Assembly confirmation and eliminates the fallback nomination procedure for the President Pro Tempore and Speaker.

Appointments shall be made by enactment of a bill stating the appointee's name, office, and county of residence.

Requests the Chief Justice maintain at least five business court judgeships among the special superior court judgeships authorized under this section.