GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1983 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 298

HOUSE BILL 458

 

AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO REQUIRE THAT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BE LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Section 7 of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a new paragraph (7) to read as follows:

"(7)      Special Qualifications for Attorney General. Only persons duly authorized to practice law in the courts of this State shall be eligible for appointment or election as Attorney General."

Sec. 2.  Section 18 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding between the first and the second sentences of paragraph (1) of that section a new sentence to read as follows:

"Only persons duly authorized to practice law in the courts of this State shall be eligible for election or appointment as a District Attorney."

Sec. 3.  The amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the general election to be held in November 1984.  That election shall be held and conducted under the laws then governing general elections in this State.

Sec. 4.  At the general election, each qualified voter presenting himself to vote shall be provided a ballot on which shall be printed the following:

"@ FOR constitutional amendment requiring Attorney General and District Attorneys to be duly authorized to practice law prior to election or appointment.

@ AGAINST constitutional amendment requiring Attorney General and District Attorneys to be duly authorized to practice law prior to election or appointment."

Sec. 5.  If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act, then the amendments shall be certified by the State Board of Elections to the Secretary of State, who shall enroll the amendments among the permanent records of his office, and the amendments shall become effective on January 1, 1985.

Sec. 6.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 11th day of May, 1983.