Sen. Everitt files bill in North Carolina Senate to reinstate judicial commission appointments

A new bill filed by State Sen. Terence Everitt seeks to reinstate the State Bar Council’s authority over judicial appointments and disciplinary procedures in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 339 on March 19 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore NC Bar Appoint’s/Judicial Discipline.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill reinstates the State Bar Council’s authority to appoint members to the Judicial Standards Commission in North Carolina, specifying that four judges must have at least ten years of active practice in the state. The terms of current commission members appointed by the General Assembly will conclude immediately upon this bill becoming law, allowing the State Bar Council to fill these seats. Additionally, the bill reinstates previous provisions regarding the discipline of justices and judges, allowing the Commission to issue both public reprimands and private letters of caution. It also details the processes for censure, suspension, or removal by the Supreme Court, including a new provision for the Court of Appeals to handle disciplinary actions against Supreme Court justices. The bill becomes effective upon becoming law and applies to all disciplinary actions against justices or judges from that date forward.

Everitt proposed another 12 bills during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Everitt graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a BA and again in 2001 from Columbus School of Law with a JD.

Everitt, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 18th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mary Wills Bode.