RALEIGH — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) last week named 15 lawmakers to a newly created Joint Select Committee on Judicial Reform and Redistricting. The House and Senate agreed to form the committee to discuss reforms to judicial elections and any changes to judicial districts.
“I’m proud of the work that senators from both parties serving on the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Reform and Redistricting performed during their roughly 20 hours of committee hearings, expert testimony and robust debate,” Berger said. “While judicial reform is a complex and challenging issue and the process has occasionally been contentious, I’m pleased with the committee’s progress and its unanimous vote to move this discussion to the next step. As the bipartisan joint committee evaluates how best to modernize and strengthen North Carolina’s judiciary — including judicial redistricting plans, merit selection models and other reforms — I hope it finds and brings forward a consensus recommendation that all North Carolinians can support.”
The membership of the committee consists of 18 Republicans and 12 Democrats.
Sens. Dan Bishop, Warren Daniel, and Bill Rabon will co-chair with Sens. Dan Barrett, Dan Blue, Jay Chaudhuri, Chuck Edwards, Joel Ford, Ralph Hise, Floyd McKissick, Wesley Meredith, Paul Newton, Shirley Randleman, Norm Sanderson and Terry Van Duyn serving as members.
From the N.C. House, Rep. Justin Burr will co-chair with Rep. David Lewis, and Reps. Hugh Blackwell, John Blust, Ted Davis, Holly Grange, Destin Hall, Duane Hall, Darren Jackson, Joe John, Jonathan Jordan, Robert Reives, Billy Richardson, David Rogers and Sarah Stevens will serve as committee members.
“This joint committee is an important step in our comprehensive legislative process to reaffirm the rights of North Carolinians who deserve balanced representation, an equal voice and full confidence in their justice system,” Moore said.
