State Lawmakers ‘Fire’ Democrat AG Josh Stein for Dereliction of Constitutional Duty

[CAROLINA JOURNAL] The GOP-led North Carolina General Assembly has taken the rare step of “firing” Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein for refusing his constitutional duty to fully represent the legislature in court.

Lawmakers allege that Stein refused to file an immediate appeal of a state court ruling that would allow tens of thousands of convicted felons who have not completed their sentences to vote.

Under the court’s ruling, an estimated 56,000 convicted felons who have not finished paying their debt to society and their victims would now be allowed to vote.  Superior Court Judge Lisa Bell announced Monday that two of three judges on a panel in the felon voting case agreed to effectively substitute their preferred policy outcome for the policy passed into law by the legislature in 1973, and the direct text of the state constitution.  The announcement comes ahead of a formal ruling because some municipal elections in North Carolina are scheduled for October.

“This is an absurd ruling that flies in the face of our constitution and further casts doubt on election integrity in North Carolina,” according to Sam Hayes, general counsel for House Speaker Tim Moore.

With Stein’s refusal to appeal the ruling, legislative leaders say they will hire a private law firm to represent the state and its citizens. For now, a [CONTINUE READING]