The NC Legislature Seeks to Remove Attorney General’s Power After His Wins Against Trump in Court
Environmental champion NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s ability to protect North Carolinians from Trump’s pro-polluter overreach is under attack in the General Assembly. Legislation to strip Jackson of the power to file or join lawsuits challenging unconstitutional Trump executive orders has advanced through a key Senate committee and is headed for a vote this week.
The Bill Removing Checks and Balances
Senate Bill 58, “AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs”, was one of several bills fast-tracked by the powerful Senate Committee on Rules for consideration on the Senate floor this week. The Rules Committee is used as the gatekeeper for any serious legislation brought to the floor in that chamber, under the iron rule of Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.
Pro-polluter legislators clearly have targeted Jackson’s use of court challenges of presidential overreach because it’s proving to be a potent check on Trump’s abuses. Thus far, Jackson and the other Democratic Attorneys General have successfully challenged Trump executive orders defunding agencies without Congressional authorization and other actions.
“The attorney general’s duty is to be a nonpartisan shield for the people of North Carolina,” Jackson spokesman Ben Conroy said Wednesday. “More than 70 federal executive orders have been issued. Attorney General Jackson has filed four federal lawsuits to protect billions in funding for western North Carolina, our public universities, and rural jobs.” Conroy added that so far, Jackson is winning all of those lawsuits. “Any legislation that undermines the independence of the attorney general’s office is bad for our state and its people,” he said.
Take Action to Protect Our Representation
SB 58 represents the latest constitutionally questionable effort by the General Assembly to remove powers from independently elected executive branch officials (including the governor and attorney general) in order to maintain power in the hands of the pro-polluter legislative leadership.
Fortunately, in the 2024 election, we and other public interest advocates successfully broke the veto-proof supermajority in the House, and fell barely short of the same in the Senate. Before the Senate and House vote on this power-grab legislation, it’s time to speak up for democracy in North Carolina.
Contact your legislators and tell them to vote no on SB 58!!
