N.C. Gen. Stat. » Chapter 162
NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 162-1 (2026)

Election and term of office

✓ current as of July 2026
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In each county a sheriff shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof, as is prescribed for members of the General Assembly, and shall hold his office for four years. (Const., art. 4, s. 24; Rev., s. 2808; C.S., s. 3925.)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case: Young v. Bailey, 781 S.E.2d 277 (N.C. 2016).
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Young v. Bailey, 781 S.E.2d 277 (N.C. 2016). · cites it 3× “The General Assembly has concluded that the politics of the elected sheriff are sufficiently important that in many counties, including the populous counties of Buncombe, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, and Wake, if a vacancy in the office occurs and the departed sheriff had…”
Treadway v. Diez, 703 S.E.2d 832 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 8× “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 162-1 (2009). In contrast, no provision is made for the establishment of a "Sheriff's Department" as a distinct legal entity with the capacity to be sued.”
Parker v. Bladen Cnty., 583 F. Supp. 2d 736 (E.D.N.C. 2008). · cites it 2× “See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 162-1 . Each elected sheriff “has the exclusive right to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office.”
Efird v. Riley, 342 F. Supp. 2d 413 (M.D.N.C. 2004). · cites it 2× “In North Carolina, the duly elected sheriff of a county under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 162-1 has “the exclusive right to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office.”
Boyd v. Robeson Cnty., 621 S.E.2d 1 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “(2003) (cities and towns) with N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 162-1 et seq. (2003) (sheriffs).”
Wiley v. Buncombe Cnty., 846 F. Supp. 2d 480 (W.D.N.C. 2012). · cites it 2× “) (citing N.C. Gen.Stat. § 162-1); see also Boyd v.”
Harter v. Vernon, 953 F. Supp. 685 (M.D.N.C. 1996). · cites it 4× “VII, § 2, and North Carolina statutes are full of provisions that govern sheriffs: the term of office, N.C.Gen.Stat. § 162-1 (1994); the qualifications of office, N.”
Little v. Smith, 114 F. Supp. 2d 437 (W.D.N.C. 2000). · cites it 2× “See N.C.Gen.Stat. § 162-1 (2000). The sheriff, not the county, has final policy-making authority over the personnel decisions in his office.”
Harter v. Vernon, 101 F.3d 334 (4th Cir. 1996). · cites it 2× “North Carolina statutes set the sher- iff's term of office, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 162-1 (1995) (sheriff to serve a four year term), and the qualifications for office.”
United States v. Johnson, 122 F. Supp. 3d 272 (M.D.N.C. 2015). · cites it 2× “) In North Carolina, the position of sheriff is constitutionally-provided for, and a sheriffs office is a separate legal entity from each county.”
Braswell v. Ellis, 950 F. Supp. 145 (E.D.N.C. 1995). · cites it 3× “§ 163-1); (disqualifications for the office of sheriff, N.C.G.S. § 162-1); (duties of the sheriff, N.”
Guy v. Jones, 747 F. Supp. 314 (E.D.N.C. 1990). · cites it 3× “elected by the people has the exclusive right to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office.”
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