NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146 (2026)

Administrative authority and duties of chief district judge

✓ current as of July 2026

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The chief district judge, subject to the general supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has administrative supervision and authority over the operation of the district courts and magistrates in the chief district judge's district. These powers and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Arranging schedules and assigning district judges for sessions of district courts.

(2) Arranging or supervising the calendaring of noncriminal matters for trial or hearing.

(3) Supervising the clerk of superior court in the discharge of the clerical functions of the district court.

(4) Assigning matters to magistrates, and consistent with the salaries set by the Administrative Officer of the Courts, prescribing times and places at which magistrates shall be available for the performance of their duties; however, the chief district judge may in writing delegate his authority to prescribe times and places at which magistrates in a particular county shall be available for the performance of their duties to another district court judge or the clerk of the superior court, or the judge may appoint a chief magistrate to fulfill some or all of the duties under subdivision (12) of this section, and the person to whom such authority is delegated shall make monthly reports to the chief district judge of the times and places actually served by each magistrate.

(5) Making arrangements with proper authorities for the drawing of civil court jury panels and determining which sessions of district court shall be jury sessions.

(6) Arranging for the reporting of civil cases by court reporters or other authorized means.

(7) Arranging sessions, to the extent practicable for the trial of specialized cases, including traffic, domestic relations, and other types of cases, and assigning district judges to preside over these sessions so as to permit maximum practicable specialization by individual judges.

(8) Repealed by Session Laws 1991 (Regular Session, 1992), c. 900, s. 118(b), effective July 15, 1992.

(9) Assigning magistrates when exigent circumstances exist to temporary duty outside the county of their appointment but within that district pursuant to the policies and procedures prescribed under G.S. 7A-343(11); and, upon the request of a chief district judge of another district and upon the approval of the Administrative Officer of the Courts, to temporary duty in the district of the requesting chief district judge pursuant to the policies and procedures prescribed under G.S. 7A-343(11). The chief district judge may, in writing, delegate the authority to assign magistrates in this subdivision to an appointed chief magistrate. A chief magistrate with authority delegated under this subdivision shall make monthly reports to the chief district judge of the times and places actually served by each magistrate.

(10) Designating another district judge of that district as acting chief district judge, to act during the absence or disability of the chief district judge.

(11) Designating certain magistrates to appoint counsel and accept waivers of counsel pursuant to Article 36 of this Chapter. This designation does not give any magistrate the authority to appoint counsel or accept waivers of counsel for potentially capital offenses, as defined by rules adopted by the Office of Indigent Defense Services. The chief district judge may delegate, in writing, the authority to designate magistrates in this subdivision to an appointed chief magistrate.

(12) Designating a full-time magistrate in a county to serve as chief magistrate for that county for an indefinite term and at the judge's pleasure. The chief magistrate shall have the derivative administrative authority assigned by the chief district court judge under subdivisions (4), (9), (11), and (13) of this section. This subdivision applies only to counties in which the chief district court judge determines that designating a chief magistrate would be in the interest of justice.

(13) Investigating written complaints against magistrates. The chief district judge may, in writing, delegate authority to an appointed chief magistrate to make preliminary investigations into written complaints against magistrates and to make a written report of their preliminary findings to the chief district judge. However, the delegation shall not authorize the chief magistrate to make written findings of misconduct or take any disciplinary action. Upon investigation and written findings of misconduct in violation of the Rules of Conduct for Magistrates, a chief district court judge may discipline a magistrate in accordance with the Rules of Conduct for Magistrates. Written complaints received by the chief district court judge and records of investigations into those complaints are to be treated as personnel records under Article 7 of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes. Notwithstanding Article 7 of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes, once a letter of caution, written reprimand, or suspension has been issued by the chief district court judge, the written complaint, and the record of the chief district court judge's action on that complaint, including any investigatory records, are no longer confidential personnel records. (1965, c. 310, s. 1; 1971, c. 377, s. 8; 1977, c. 945, s. 1; 1983, c. 586, s. 1; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1034, s. 85; 1985, c. 425, s. 2; c. 764, s. 8; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 852, s. 17; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 900, s. 118(b); 2009-419, s. 2; 2011-411, s. 2(b); 2013-89, s. 1; 2015-247, s. 3(a); 2018-138, s. 2.12(c); 2022-47, ss. 5(b), 6(a); 2023-103, s. 10.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1970–2023 · leading case: In re J.S., 641 S.E.2d 395 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007).

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In re J.S., 641 S.E.2d 395 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 14× “The order stated as follows: Pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146, effective immediately all discovery motions filed in Abuse/Neglect/Dependency *397 Court in Wayne County, North Carolina, seeking to review the records held by the Department of Social Services…”

In Re M.A.I.B.K., 645 S.E.2d 881 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “Pursuant to the authority granted by North Carolina General Statutes, section 7A-146 1 , the Tenth Judicial District has adopted local rules which govern its juvenile Family Court cases.”

In Re Inquiry Concerning Judge Nowell, 237 S.E.2d 246 (N.C. 1977). · cites it 2× “Respondent contends: (1) The charges against both Grantham and West were traffic violations for which, under the authority of G.S. 7A-146(8) and G.S. 7A-148, the chief district court judge had authorized magistrates and clerks of court to accept written appearances, waivers of…”

Austin v. Austin, 183 S.E.2d 420 (N.C. Ct. App. 1971). · cites it 4× “However, in order to have authority to act, the district judge, other than the chief district judge, must be properly authorized under the provisions of G.S. 7A-146 and G.S. 7A-192 to hold a session of court at which the matter is properly before him, or under G.”

Brown v. Ellis, 696 S.E.2d 813 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “Rule 2 provides that a ready calendar shall be *106 maintained by the Clerk of Court and .”

Stroupe v. Stroupe, 273 S.E.2d 434 (N.C. 1981). · cites it 2× “Under the provisions of the first portion of the quoted statute, before a district court judge, other than the chief district judge, may hear motions and enter interlocutory orders at any session of district court in cases calendared for trial or hearing at such session, he must…”

Young v. Young, 515 S.E.2d 478 (N.C. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 3× “Pursuant to this authority, our Supreme Court requires the Senior Resident Judge and Chief District Judge in each judicial district to “take appropriate actions [such as the promulgation of local rules] to insure prompt disposition of any pending motions or other matters…”

Laroque v. Laroque, 265 S.E.2d 444 (N.C. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 2× “and G.S. § 7A-146, the calendaring of civil cases is controlled by Rule 2 of the General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts.”

Ward v. Ward, 448 S.E.2d 862 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “2d 467, 468 (1993); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(1), (2). Pursuant to G.”

Breedlove v. Warren, 790 S.E.2d 893 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(4) (2015). These statutes, taken together, make it explicit that the appointment of magistrates is within the authority of the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge; that the suspension of magistrates is within the authority of the Chief District Court…”

In Re Js, 641 S.E.2d 395 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 14× “The order stated as follows: Pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146, effective immediately all discovery motions filed in Abuse/Neglect/Dependency *397 Court in Wayne County, North Carolina, seeking to review the records held by the Department of Social Services…”

Simmons v. Tuttle, 318 S.E.2d 847 (N.C. Ct. App. 1984). “” Among the rules adopted under this statutory authority is Rule 2 of the General Rules of Practice which, in pertinent part, provides: Subject to the provisions of Rule 40(a), Rules of Civil Procedure and G.S. 7A-146: (a) The Senior Resident Judge and Chief District Judge in…”

Show all 21 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(1) — 2 cases

Austin v. Austin, 183 S.E.2d 420 (N.C. Ct. App. 1971). “However, in order to have authority to act, the district judge, other than the chief district judge, must be properly authorized under the provisions of G.S. 7A-146 and G.S. 7A-192 to hold a session of court at which the matter is properly before him, or under G.”

Ward v. Ward, 448 S.E.2d 862 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994). “2d 467, 468 (1993); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(1), (2). Pursuant to G.”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(4) — 1 case

Breedlove v. Warren, 790 S.E.2d 893 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016). “N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(4) (2015). These statutes, taken together, make it explicit that the appointment of magistrates is within the authority of the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge; that the suspension of magistrates is within the authority of the Chief District Court…”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(6) — 1 case

Sauls v. Sauls, 218 S.E.2d 338 (N.C. 1975).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-146(8) — 1 case

In Re Inquiry Concerning Judge Nowell, 237 S.E.2d 246 (N.C. 1977). “Respondent contends: (1) The charges against both Grantham and West were traffic violations for which, under the authority of G.S. 7A-146(8) and G.S. 7A-148, the chief district court judge had authorized magistrates and clerks of court to accept written appearances, waivers of…”

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