State Senator Angela Bryant explained in a news release Friday the consolidation of the two local judicial and prosecutorial districts was done through an attachment to the state budget bill that also sought to create a new district in Stanley County.
The signing of the state budget by Governor Pat McCrory created a new prosecutorial district in the area, combing 6A — Halifax County — and 6B — Bertie, Hertford and Northampton — into what will now be referred to as District 6.
Bryant explained in her statement that for superior court purposes, there will continue to be two superior court districts, 6A and 6B, each with a chief resident superior court judge. “This decision was buttressed by a workload/case filing analysis by the Administrative Office of the Courts which showed that Districts 6A and 6B needed 2.22 and 2.26 district court judges respectively, and that these other areas needed additional judges; however, the District Court Judges Conference opposed this legislatively driven reconfiguration and recommended a comprehensive state-wide study including all stakeholders and based on all relevant factors and considerations including workload analyses.”
The passage of the state budget means through the election Halifax County District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey would run against current 6B District Attorney Valerie Asbell in 2014.
District 6B will lose both of its district court judges – Rob Lewis and Thomas Jones — because their terms are up for reelection this year.
The Halifax County District Court judges — Brenda Branch, Teresa Robinson-Freeman and Turner Stephenson — as well as District 6B District Court Judge Vershenia Ballance Moody of Northampton County will have to run for re-election in the new four-county District 6 in 2016.
Bryant said the legislative delegation in both districts, “Worked tirelessly to preserve our two judicial districts and get a proper statewide study that would involve all stakeholders but were not able to combat the power of the budget chairs.”
Bryant sees many adverse impacts. “Four judges have to cover the four counties with increased travel and administrative tasks. The population of the district will double and while it loses two judges; Halifax County itself is one of the largest geographical counties in the state and now added to a judicial district with three other counties may create a challenge for access for many of the citizens in the four county area to get to the district court judges and the district attorney, depending on where located.”
Bryant believes there will be backlogs and delays will result in justice and collection of fines and fees and child support; custodial parents could remain on public assistance for longer periods than necessary
“The legislation is unfair and done to create a single district for one county to the detriment of four other counties,” Bryant said. “This type of reconfiguration should be done after a study of the entire system and with the opportunity for input from all affected.”
She said this change can affect and limit access to services and justice for victims, citizens and lawyers and can limit access between law enforcement and judges and the district attorney.
“Law enforcement officers and lawyers may have to travel more distance to meet with judges or district attorneys; the district attorney may have to travel more distance to view crime scenes; the broader district may lessen the feel of accountability to the citizens.”
Bryant said this legislation does not appear to affect voting in any way and therefore, does not appear to be impacted by the Voting Rights Act.
