North Carolina governor vetoes bill allowing judges to be suspended without pay

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein vetoed a bill that would let the state Supreme Court suspend, censure, or remove trial judges without first going through the Judicial Standards Commission's recommendation process. The court currently sits 5-2 Republican, and the bill would let the chief justice suspend judges without pay if the commission finds an ongoing 'risk of injury' to justice.

Stein called it a power no other chief justice in the country holds, warning it would let legislative leadership and the chief justice control judicial discipline while sidelining the elected judges North Carolina voters put in office.

The bill passed the General Assembly with a veto-proof Senate majority and a House one seat short, aided by an unaffiliated representative's vote; the chamber isn't expected to reconvene until after November's election, when an override attempt looms.

Stein also vetoed a companion elections bill cutting early voting days and expanding the Republican state auditor's power to audit the county election boards he already oversees, a bill shadowed by reports of a resigned elections liaison texting a county board 'don't let them have a vote.'

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