By Frank Trainor This year the Supreme Court of North Carolina has released opinions addressing how courts in North Carolina treat administrative‐agency interpretations of statutes and regulations. The two cases are Savage v. N.C. Department of Transportation and Mitchell v. University of N.C. Board of Governors. Prior to the Supreme Court pronouncements this year, judicial […]
By W. Bain Jones Jr. In June, I was fortunate to attend the Disaster Legal Services Workshop, where lawyers volunteered their services to help victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. This workshop was conducted in Asheville and was one of ten seminars held across Western North Carolina to assist individuals dealing with landlord/tenant, […]
By Kristen L. Fetter We are pleased to welcome McKensie G. Skeens, newly appointed Administrative Law Judge, to the bench. Judge Skeens is an accomplished attorney whose career has been defined by public service and education. Originally from Abingdon, Virginia, Judge Skeens brings with her the values of service and community that shaped her early […]
By Ryan C. Mitiguy On August 22, 2025, the North Carolina Supreme Court filed an opinion in Devalle v. N.C. Sheriffs’ Educ. & Training Standards Comm’n. The Court’s opinion provides regulatory agencies and occupational licensing boards guidance in determining an applicant’s “good moral character” as required by statute. The Court first recognized the requirements of […]
By Frank Trainor I am honored and excited to serve as Chair of the Administrative Law Council for the 2025-2026 year. I am Frank Trainor, and I have been an administrative lawyer in the Raleigh area for 25 years. I am (almost) a lifelong North Carolina resident, having attended Hayesville High School and the University […]
By Jeffrey P. Gray The House Regulatory Reform Committee met on Tuesday, March 11, this time with a specific topic on the agenda: occupational and professional licensing. Two outside speakers, both with similar perspectives, made presentations. Jon Sanders, Director of the Center for Food, Power and Life, a research arm of the John Locke Foundation, […]
By W. Bain Jones Jr. On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Regulatory Reform Committee met. Andy Ellen, General Counsel of the Retail Merchants Association, was the first presenter. He characterized the environment as dire and needing for certainty and consistency in statutes addressing small businesses. He and Representative Hager supported voluntary environmental regulation concerning plastic […]
By Ann B. Wall Emergency Video Notarization (EVN) Alert EVN expired on June 30, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. House Bill 556, which would have extended EVN until July 1, 2025, has been vetoed over a matter unrelated to notarization. Unless the General Assembly should override the veto or another legislative action is taken to extend […]
By W. Bain Jones Jr. The APO Committee is chaired by Rep. Sarah Stevens. Sen. Galey is Co-Chair and was present along with Committee Members Sen. Mayfield, Sen. Moffit, Sen, Sanderson, Rep. Longest and Rep. Dahle. A report on the Periodic Review of Existing Rules (Existing Rules Review or ERR) was presented by Codifier of […]
By W. Bain Jones Jr. The Administrative Law Section established the Award for Excellence to recognize members of the section who have made significant and lasting contributions to the practice of administrative law. These individuals are experienced members of the profession and are in good standing concerning their practice. The recipient must have practiced administrative […]