North Carolina House Bill 478 Requires Governor to Appoint District Attorneys from Party Lists

Original title: Modify Appointment Process for DA Vacancies.

Last action · June 10, 2025: Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Jennifer Balkcom and 9 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina HB 478 requires the Governor to fill district attorney vacancies by choosing from a list of up to three candidates recommended by the local political party committee of the vacating official. If recommendations are not submitted within 30 days, the Governor may make an appointment independently.

Why it matters

Changes how local chief prosecutors are selected when mid-term vacancies occur, shifting appointment power toward political party executives while setting a strict 30-day window for candidate submissions.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Political party executive committees

Political party committees gain the formal authority to submit a list of up to three candidates for gubernatorial appointment when a district attorney vacancy occurs within their party.

Directly affected

District Attorney candidates

Individuals seeking an interim district attorney appointment must now be recommended by party committees or legislative majorities depending on party affiliation.

Key Facts

The Governor must appoint individuals to fill district attorney vacancies from a list of up to three qualified persons recommended by the district executive committee of the political party of the vacating district attorney.
If the vacating district attorney was unaffiliated with a political party, recommendations are made by a majority of General Assembly members representing any portion of that prosecutorial district.
If recommendations are not provided within 30 days of the vacancy, the Governor is authorized to appoint a qualified person independently.
Appointees hold office until the next General Assembly election held more than 60 days after the vacancy occurs.

Show all 6 facts

A qualified person for the appointment must be duly authorized to practice law in North Carolina.
For existing vacancies on the effective date of the act, recommending entities have 30 days from the effective date to submit recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who recommends candidates to fill a district attorney vacancy?

The of the political party with which the vacating district attorney was affiliated recommends a list of up to three qualified persons.

What happens if the political party fails to submit recommendations within 30 days?

If recommendations are not made within 30 days of the vacancy occurring, the Governor may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy without a party list.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

9 actions

Jun 10, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Jun 10, 2025House
Reptd Fav
May 13, 2025House
Re-ref Com On State and Local Government
May 13, 2025House
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
Apr 1, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Election Law
Apr 1, 2025House
Reptd Fav

Show 3 earlier actions

Mar 24, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Election Law, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Mar 24, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Mar 20, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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