Judges Hear Arguments In Special Session Lawsuit

A panel of state judges has heard arguments over litigation challenging a December 2016 session of the North Carolina General Assembly where laws were approved that weakened incoming Gov. Roy Cooper.

A government reform group and several voters want the work performed during the special session voided because lawmakers didn't give adequate notice of the meeting and the chance for citizens to "instruct their representatives." That phrasing is in the state constitution.

During Wednesday's hearing, the judges questioned the plaintiffs' attorney about how much advance notice was needed to be lawful. But lawyer Burton Craige said that didn't matter in this extreme case — there was only two hours between the announcement and the session's opening.

Attorneys for the state told the judges that lawmakers followed the rules in convening the session.

The panel didn't immediately rule from the bench when almost two hours of arguments ended.