§ 7A-45.1. Special judges.
§ 7A‑45.1. Specialjudges.
(a) Effective November1, 1993, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serveterms expiring September 30, 2000. Effective October 1, 2000, one of thosepositions is abolished. Successors to the special superior court judgeappointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to a five‑yearterm. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the samerequirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regularjudges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particulardistrict.
(a1) Effective October 1,1995, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serve termsexpiring September 30, 2000. Successors to the special superior court judgesappointed pursuant to this subsection shall be appointed to five‑yearterms. A special judge takes the same oath of office and is subject to the samerequirements and disabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regularjudges of the superior court, save the requirement of residence in a particulardistrict.
(a2) Effective December15, 1996, the Governor may appoint four special superior court judges to serveterms expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office.Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to thissubsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takesthe same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements anddisabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of thesuperior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.
(a3) Effective December15, 1998, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve aterm expiring five years from the date that judge takes office. Successors tothe special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall beappointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath ofoffice and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or maybe prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save therequirement of residence in a particular district.
(a4) Effective October 1,1999, the Governor may appoint four special superior court judges to serveterms expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office.Successors to the special superior court judges appointed pursuant to thissubsection shall be appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takesthe same oath of office and is subject to the same requirements anddisabilities as are or may be prescribed by law for regular judges of thesuperior court, save the requirement of residence in a particular district.
(a5) Effective October 1,2001, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve a termexpiring five years from the date that judge takes office. Successors to thespecial superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shall beappointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath ofoffice and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or maybe prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save therequirement of residence in a particular district.
(a6) Effective December1, 2004, the Governor may appoint a special superior court judge to serve aterm expiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successorsto the special superior court judge appointed pursuant to this subsection shallbe appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath ofoffice and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or maybe prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save therequirement of residence in a particular district.
(a7) Effective January 1,2008, the Governor may appoint two special superior court judges to serve termsexpiring five years from the date that each judge takes office. Successors tothe special superior court judges appointed pursuant to this subsection shallbe appointed to five‑year terms. A special judge takes the same oath ofoffice and is subject to the same requirements and disabilities as are or maybe prescribed by law for regular judges of the superior court, save therequirement of residence in a particular district.
(b) A special judge issubject to removal from office for the same causes and in the same manner as aregular judge of the superior court, and a vacancy occurring in the office ofspecial judge is filled by the Governor by appointment for the unexpired term.
(c) A special judge, inany court in which he is duly appointed to hold, has the same power andauthority in all matters that a regular judge holding the same court wouldhave. A special judge, duly assigned to hold the court of a particular county,has during the session of court in that county, in open court and in chambers,the same power and authority of a regular judge in all matters arising in thedistrict or set of districts as defined in G.S. 7A‑41.1(a) in which thatcounty is located, that could properly be heard or determined by a regularjudge holding the same session of court.
(d) A special judge isauthorized to settle cases on appeal and to make all proper orders in regardthereto after the time for which he was commissioned has expired. (1987, c. 738, s. 123(a);1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1037, s. 5; 1993, c. 321, s. 200.5(g); 1995, c.507, s. 21.1(f); 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 22.6(a); 1998‑212, s.16.22(a), (b); 1999‑237, s. 17.12(a); 2000‑67, s. 15.8(a); 2001‑424,s. 22.4(a); 2004‑124, s. 14.6(a); 2007‑323, s. 14.24.)