NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-60 (2026)

District attorneys and prosecutorial districts

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) The State shall be divided into prosecutorial districts, as shown in subsection (a1) of this section. There shall be a district attorney for each prosecutorial district, as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section who shall be a resident of the prosecutorial district for which elected. A vacancy in the office of district attorney shall be filled as provided in Article IV, Sec. 19 of the Constitution.

(a1) (Effective until January 1, 2027) The counties of the State are organized into prosecutorial districts, and each district has the counties and the number of full-time assistant district attorneys set forth in the following table:

No. of Full-Time

Prosecutorial Asst. District

District Counties Attorneys

1 Camden, Chowan, Currituck, 12

Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

Perquimans

2 Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, 8

Tyrrell, Washington

3 Pitt 15

4 Carteret, Craven, Pamlico 14

5 Duplin, Jones, Onslow, 20

Sampson

6 New Hanover, Pender 20

7 Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, 11

Northampton

8 Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson 22

9 Greene, Lenoir, Wayne 16

10 Wake 44

11 Franklin, Granville, Person 18

Vance, Warren

12 Harnett, Lee 12

13 Johnston 13

14 Cumberland 25

15 Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus 16

16 Durham 18

17 Alamance 12

18 Chatham, Orange 10

20 Robeson 13

21 Anson, Richmond, Scotland 11

22 Caswell, Rockingham 9

23 Stokes, Surry 9

24 Guilford 40

25 Cabarrus 11

26 Mecklenburg 71

27 Rowan 9

28 Montgomery, Stanly 6

29 Hoke, Moore 10

30 Union 11

31 Forsyth 27

32 Alexander, Iredell 15

33 Davidson, Davie 13

34 Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, 9

Yadkin

35 Avery, Madison, Mitchell, 8

Watauga, Yancey

36 Burke, Caldwell, Catawba 21

37 Randolph 10

38 Gaston 19

39 Cleveland, 13

Lincoln

40 Buncombe 14

41 McDowell, Rutherford 8

42 Henderson, Polk, Transylvania 10

43 Cherokee, Clay, Graham, 15

Haywood, Jackson, Macon,

Swain.

(a1) (Effective January 1, 2027) The counties of the State are organized into prosecutorial districts, and each district has the counties and the number of full-time assistant district attorneys set forth in the following table:

No. of Full-Time

Prosecutorial Asst. District

District Counties Attorneys

1 Camden, Chowan, Currituck, 12

Dare, Gates, Pasquotank,

Perquimans

2 Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, 8

Tyrrell, Washington

3 Pitt 15

4 Carteret, Craven, Pamlico 14

5 Duplin, Jones, Onslow, 20

Sampson

6 New Hanover, Pender 20

7 Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, 11

Northampton

8 Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson 22

9 Greene, Lenoir, Wayne 16

10 Wake 44

11 Franklin, Granville, Person 18

Vance, Warren

12 Harnett, Lee 12

13 Johnston 13

14 Cumberland 25

15 Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus 16

16 Durham 18

17 Alamance 12

18 Chatham, Orange 10

19 Catawba 10

20 Robeson 13

21 Anson, Richmond, Scotland 11

22 Caswell, Rockingham 9

23 Stokes, Surry 9

24 Guilford 40

25 Cabarrus 11

26 Mecklenburg 71

27 Rowan 9

28 Montgomery, Stanly 6

29 Hoke, Moore 10

30 Union 11

31 Forsyth 27

32 Alexander, Iredell 15

33 Davidson, Davie 13

34 Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, 9

Yadkin

35 Avery, Madison, Mitchell, 8

Watauga, Yancey

36 Burke, Caldwell 11

37 Randolph 10

38 Gaston 19

39 Cleveland, 13

Lincoln

40 Buncombe 14

41 McDowell, Rutherford 8

42 Henderson, Polk, Transylvania 10

43 Cherokee, Clay, Graham, 15

Haywood, Jackson, Macon,

Swain.

(a2) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 18B.9(f), effective June 28, 2017.

(a3) In a manner not inconsistent with applicable State law, the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys shall have the authority to assign to specific counties assistant district attorney positions created by the General Assembly for the purpose of serving as special assistant United States attorneys. The Conference will retain assignment authority of assistant district attorney positions referenced in this subsection for so long as the positions are funded for that purpose.

The number of assistant district attorney positions subject to the requirements of this subsection shall not exceed 12.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each district attorney for a prosecutorial district as defined in subsection (a1) of this section, other than District 19B, who is in office on December 31, 1988, shall continue in office for that prosecutorial district, for a term expiring December 31, 1990. In the general election of 1990, and every four years thereafter, a district attorney shall be elected for a four-year term for each prosecutorial district other than Districts 16A and 19B, and shall take office on the January 1 following such election. The district attorney for Prosecutorial District 19B, who is elected in the general election of 1988 for a four-year term beginning January 1, 1989, shall serve that term for Prosecutorial District 19B. In the general election of 1992, and every four years thereafter, a district attorney shall be elected for a four-year term for Prosecutorial Districts 16A and 19B and shall take office on the January 1 following such election.

(c) The office and term of the district attorney for Prosecutorial District 12 formerly consisting of Cumberland and Hoke Counties are allocated to Prosecutorial District 12 as defined by subsection (a1) of this section. The office and the term of the district attorney for former Prosecutorial District 16 consisting of Robeson and Scotland Counties are allocated to Prosecutorial District 16B as defined by subsection (a1) of this section. The initial district attorney for Prosecutorial District 16A as defined in subsection (a1) of this section shall be elected in the general election of November 1988, from nominations made in accordance with G.S. 163-114 as if a vacancy had occurred in nomination, and shall serve an initial term expiring December 31, 1992. In all other respects, subsection (b) of this section shall apply to the district attorneys for Prosecutorial Districts 12, 16A, and 16B to the same extent as all other district attorneys. (1967, c. 1049, s. 1; 1975, c. 956, s. 4; 1977, c. 1130, s. 3; 1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1238, s. 2; 1981, c. 964, ss. 2, 3; 1987, c. 509, ss. 4, 5; c. 738, s. 127(a); 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1056, s. 1; c. 1086, s. 111; 1989, c. 770, ss. 1, 56; c. 795, s. 24(a), (e); 1991, c. 742, s. 13; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 900, s. 120(a), (b); 1993, c. 321, ss. 200.4(l), 200.7(a), (b); 1995, c. 507, s. 21.7; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 589, s. 3(a); 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 18, s. 22(a); 1997-443, s. 18.11(a); 1998-212, s. 16.20(a); 1999-237, s. 17.8(a); 2004-124, s. 14.6(h); 2005-276, s. 14.2(l); 2006-66, ss. 14.3(a), 14.19(a); 2007-323, ss. 14.14(a), (b), 14.25(j); 2008-107, s. 14.6; 2009-451, s. 15.17E(a); 2012-194, s. 1(b); 2013-360, s. 18B.22(k); 2014-100, s. 18B.7(a); 2017-6, s. 3; 2017-57, s. 18B.9(e), (f), (h), (i); 2017-197, s. 5.6(a)-(c); 2018-5, s. 18B.6; 2018-114, s. 24(a), (b); 2018-121, ss. 3(a)-(d), 7; 2018-145, s. 8(a); 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1; 2019-229, s. 1(a)-(c); 2021-91, s. 13(a), (b); 2021-180, s. 16.8(a); 2022-74, s. 16.6; 2023-134, ss. 16.4(a)-(c), 16.26(d), (e), (g); 2024-1, s. 5.2(a); 2025-93, s. 9(a); 2025-97, s. 5.6(b).)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 28 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: State v. Barnes, 481 S.E.2d 44 (N.C. 1997).

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State v. Barnes, 481 S.E.2d 44 (N.C. 1997). · cites it 3× “§ 15A-957, which provides in pertinent part: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court must…”

State v. Robinson, 561 S.E.2d 245 (N.C. 2002). · cites it 2× “§ 15A-957, which provides in part: *327 If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court must either:…”

State v. Rose, 451 S.E.2d 211 (N.C. 1994). · cites it 2× “The statute pertaining to change-of-venue motions provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the…”

State v. Hunt, 373 S.E.2d 400 (N.C. 1988). · cites it 4× “§ 15A-957 provides, in pertinent part: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court must either:…”

State v. Prevatte, 570 S.E.2d 440 (N.C. 2002). · cites it 2× “The statute for a change of venue provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court must…”

State v. Wallace, 528 S.E.2d 326 (N.C. 2000). · cites it 2× “ich governs motions for change of venue, provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court…”

State v. Gregory, 459 S.E.2d 638 (N.C. 1995). · cites it 2× “The statute pertaining to change of venue motions provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the…”

State v. Moseley, 449 S.E.2d 412 (N.C. 1994). · cites it 2× “The statute pertaining to change of venue motions provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the…”

State v. Soyars, 418 S.E.2d 480 (N.C. 1992). · cites it 2× “The relevant statute regarding motions for change of venue states: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial…”

State v. Jaynes, 464 S.E.2d 448 (N.C. 1995). · cites it 2× “cutorial district as defined in G.S. 7A-60 or to another county in an adjoining prosecutorial district as defined in G.”

State v. Moore, 440 S.E.2d 797 (N.C. 1994). · cites it 2× “The statute pertaining to change of venue motions provides: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the…”

State v. Gray, 491 S.E.2d 538 (N.C. 1997). · cites it 2× “§ 15A-957 provides in part: If, upon motion of the defendant, the court determines that there exists in the county in which the prosecution is pending so great a prejudice against the defendant that he cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial, the court must either: (1) Transfer…”

Show all 28 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-60(a) — 1 case

Farm Labor Org. Comm. v. Roy Cooper (M.D.N.C. 2021).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-60(a)(1) — 1 case

Nc Rsol v. Nodalski (M.D.N.C. 2019).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-60(a1) — 1 case

State v. Giese (N.C. 2024).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.