court, courts, commission

A 28-member Courts Commission studies the North Carolina court system and makes recommendations to the General Assembly on any changes that will improve the administration of justice. The commission consists of court officials, practicing attorneys, legislators and citizens.

In its early years, the Courts Commission researched, drafted and shepherded through the General Assembly all the major legislation that implemented unification of the judicial branch of state government. This move, approved by voters in 1962, was a revision of Article IV of the N.C. Constitution. The Commission's recommendations led to legislation creating new districts, adding court personnel, creating a category of offenses called infractions, authorizing the use of emergency judges and other matters.

The Commission continues to study the structure, organization, jurisdiction procedures and personnel of the state court system.