Notice of Proposed Bylaw Change
The General Assembly recently enacted changes to the procedures for filling District Court Judge vacancies, necessitating a change in the bylaws for the Buncombe County Bar.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Buncombe County Bar Luncheon Meeting
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 12:30pm
The Venue, 21 North Market Street
The agenda includes the following revision to the Bylaws:
ARTICLE VI
VACANCIES IN THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
Unless otherwise required by law, the following procedures shall be used to determine the nominees to be recommended to the Governor pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §7A142 for vacant district court judgeships in the judicial district.
(a) Meeting for Nominations: The nominees shall be selected by secret, written ballot of those members present at a meeting of the district bar called for this purpose. Fifteen (15) days notice of the meeting shall be given, by mail, to the last known address of each district bar member. Alternatively, if a bylaw permitting elections by mail is adopted by the district bar, the procedures set forth in the bylaw and in Rule .0804 of Subchapter 1A of the Rules of the North Carolina State Bar (27 N.C.A.C. 1A, .0804), shall be followed.
(b) Candidates: Persons who want to be considered for the vacancy shall notify the President in writing five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the election will be conducted or, if the election is by mail, five (5) days prior to the mailing of the ballots.
(c) Voting: Each district bar member eligible to vote pursuant to NC Gen. Stat. § 7A142 may vote for up to five candidates. Cumulative voting is prohibited. Proxy voting is prohibited.
(d) Submission to Governor: The five candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be the nominees to fill the vacancy on the district court and their names, and vote totals, shall be transmitted to the governor. In the event of a tie for fifth place, the names of those candidates involved in the tie shall be transmitted to the governor together with the names of the four candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
The Bar’s current bylaws can be viewed by clicking here. Changes to the bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present at the September 9th meeting. To reserve your spot for lunch on September 9th, please click here. There is no cost (and no need for an RSVP) if you would like to attend the meeting but prefer not to eat lunch.
