COURTS:
Clarify Legal
Filing Law
(H 394) (SL 2003-337): This bill clarifies which days are
Alegal@
holidays for the purposes meeting court deadlines. A legal
holiday is one on which the courthouse is closed for
transactions. This act is effective October 1, 2003, and applies
to any act required or permitted by law on or after that date.
Modernize
Judgment Docketing Laws
(H 636) (SL 2003-59): This bill modernizes the law on entry of
judgment to include electronic judgment dockets. The law is also
clarified to state that money judgments in actions other than
contract actions bear interest from the date of the entry of the
judgment as specified in Rule 1A-1, Rule 58. This act became
effective September 1, 2003, and applies to all judgments entered,
docketed or indexed on or after that date.
Worthless Check
Program/Extend Statewide
(H 1026) (SL 2003-377): This bill authorizes the Administrative
Office of the Courts to establish a worthless check program in any
prosecutorial district where it is economically feasible to do so.
Funds were not allocated by the General Assembly to operate these
programs, and it is assumed they will be self-supporting. The
programs will report to the appropriate Appropriations chairs by
April 1 of each odd- numbered year. This act became effective when
it became law on August 1, 2003.
State Bar
Amendments
(S 539) (SL 2003-116): This bill amends three areas of the practice
of law statutes in Chapter 84. First the pro hoc vice admission
requirements for out-of-state attorneys who seek to be admitted to
represent a client in a particular case are tightened. The new
requirements include a signature on the statement by the attorney
who seeks admission and disclosure of any disciplinary history that
the applying attorney may have. The second matter in this bill
specifically states the subpoena power of the State Bar council or
its committees over the fiduciary accounts of attorneys or suspended
or disbarred attorneys. Finally, the disciplinary hearing
commission of the State Bar is increased from 15 to 20 members.
Twelve of these members are to be licensed attorneys appointed by
the council and eight are North Carolina citizens appointed by the
Governor (4), the president Pro Tempore of the Senate (2) and the
Speaker(s) of the House (2).
This act became
effective on October 1, 2003. |
