Dear Members of the District Bar of the 32nd Judicial District:

As you are aware, the office of judge in District Court District 32 has recently become vacant and it is the responsibility of the local district bar to submit five (5) names to the Governor of North Carolina for consideration to fill the vacancy. See, N.G.C.S. §7A-142(c). As such, the officers of the 32 nd Judicial Bar have called a special meeting to be held on April 8, 2025 in the Superior Court courtroom of the Iredell County Courthouse at 4:00 p.m. to hold nominee elections.

If you are interested in submitting your name to be considered, please notify me in writing five (5) days prior to the meeting. Please include a brief resume and statement as to your qualifications for the vacancy. Pursuant to the bylaws, we can accept nominations from the floor during the meeting as long as the candidate is present or provides a signed, written statement of interest and eligibility. I have additionally been asked whether there is a county residency requirement for the vacant seat, and to the best of our knowledge, there is not one. The current five (5) judges fulfill the residency requirements set forth in N.C.G.S. §7A-133(b3) such that the nominees for the vacant office must only reside in the district and not a particular county.

During the meeting, the nominees will each be given five (5) minutes to make a speech or receive endorsements from the members of the District Bar. At the conclusion of the speeches, the members of the District Bar may cast by secret, written ballot up to five (5) votes, but not more than one (1) vote for any one candidate. Pursuant to the bylaws, we will count the votes immediately and report the results during the meeting. The nominees will then be submitted to Governor Stein’s office for his consideration.

It has also come to my attention during this process that the current bylaws need to be updated to allow for alternative methods of notice and to align with the requirements set forth in N.C.G.S. §7A-142. We are proposing a vote during this meeting to amend the following portions of the current bylaws as set forth below. We have included the current text with the additional or proposed amended text in bold and underlined.

1. BYLAWS OF THE 32nd JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR (title)

2. Article I (“Name”): The name of this district bar shall be THE DISTRICT BAR OF THE 32nd JUDICIAL DISTRICT, and shall be hereinafter referred to as the “District Bar”.

3. Article VII (“Meetings”), Section (a) (“Annual Meetings”): The District Bar shall meet each year [bold and underline omitted from original] at a time and place designated by the president. The president or secretary-treasurer shall mail or deliver written notice of the annual meeting to each active member of the District Bar at the member’s last known mailing address on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar at least ten days before the date of the annual meeting and shall so certify in the official minutes of the meeting. Notice of the same force and effect as written mail described above may also be accomplished by electronic mail to the last known email address on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar at least ten (10) days prior to the date of any annual meeting. Notice of the meeting mailed by the executive director of the North Carolina State Bar shall also satisfy the notice requirement. Failure to mail or deliver the notice as herein provided shall invalidate any action of the annual meeting.

4. Article VII (“Meetings’), Section (b) (“Special Meetings”): Special meetings, if any, may be called at any time by the president or vice-president. The president or secretary-treasurer shall mail or deliver written notice of the special meeting to each active member of the District Bar at the member’s last known mailing address on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar at least ten days before the date of any special meeting. Notice of the same force and effect as written mail described above may also be accomplished by electronic mail to the last known email address on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar at least ten (10) days prior to the date of any special meeting. Such notice shall set forth the time and place for the special meeting and the purpose(s) thereof. Failure to mail or deliver the notice shall invalidate any action taken at a special meeting.

5. Article XI (“Selection of Nominees for District Court Judge”), Section (a) (“Meeting for nominations”): Upon notice of a vacancy on the district court bench, the officers shall schedule a meeting of the District Bar. Fifteen (15) days notice of the meeting shall be given, by mail, to the last known address of each District Bar member on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar. Notice of the same force and effect as written mail described above may also be accomplished by electronic mail to the last known email address on file with the District Bar or the North Carolina State Bar at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting for nominations. The notice shall also be posted on a bulletin board in the courthouse and shall be sent to appropriate local newspapers.

6. Article XI (“Selection of Nominees for District Court Judge”), Section (d) (“Voting”): The nominees shall be selected by secret, written ballot of those active members of the District Bar present at the meeting. Each District Bar member shall be entitled to cast up to five votes for each vacancy but not more than one vote for any one candidate. There shall be no proxy or absentee ballots.

7. Article XI (“Selection of Nominees for District Court Judge”), Section (f) (“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 membership shall vote on the two candidates tied for fifth place and the name of the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be transmitted to the Governor together with the vote total and an explanation of the tie vote.

8. Article XIII (“Effective Date of Bylaws”): These bylaws are adopted on the ____ day of November, 2008 and amended as of the ___ day of April, 2025 by the District Bar and are effective as of that date.

I would ask each of you to review the proposed amendments and be prepared to vote during the meeting for the election of nominees. If you have any questions concerning the meeting or the proposed amendments, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

E. Scott Copeland
32 nd Judicial District Bar President

PUBLISHED: MARCH 24, 2025