Conference report to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

Removes the following provision: (1) Section 4, concerning the deadline to appeal in certain property cases, (2) Section 22, concerning local supplements for magistrate pay, and (3) Section 25, concerning distinctions between costs and expenses awarded in civil actions.

Section 9

Amends proposed changes to GS 7A-452 to require that when an indigent person has entered notice of appeal and appellate counsel has been appointed, that the complete trial division file in the case and documentary exhibits and digital storage media containing exhibits be made available to any attorney of record (was, to the appointed attorney).

Section 15

Amends the proposed changes to GS 7B-2901(a) by adding to the conditions under which a judge may issue an order disclosing information in a juvenile court record to a person who is not authorized to examine the record without a court order to include when the order is necessary for the protection of the public.

Section 21

Amends proposed GS 7A-47.3(a1) to require the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, when assigning superior court judges for a district consisting of at least one county with a population over 1 million, to include judges from (1) other districts in that same judicial division and (2) districts from any judicial division adjacent to the division with the district (was, adjacent to the district) consisting of at least one county with a population over 1 million. Prohibits assigning a judge from a district in an adjacent judicial division to more than one six-month term every five years (previous, allowed an exception when the judge consents). Adds that (a1) does not limit the authority of the chief justice to assign superior court judges to sessions or cases as necessary to balance the number of judges assigned in each division and to administer the courts and effectuate the principle of rotation among the various districts of a judicial division. Changes the effective date of new (a1) from when the act became law to January 1, 2027, applicable to rotation on or after that date.

Adds the following new content.

Section 28

Amends GS 7A-374, containing definitions that apply to Article 30, Judicial Standards Commission, as follows. Amends the definitions of censure, public reprimand, and remove or removal, to no longer require that those actions be based on a written recommendation by the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission (Commission); also now refers to those actions as rulings instead of findings. Adds and defines the term trial judge. Makes additional technical changes.

Amends GS 7A-377 by amending what actions can be taken when a respondent takes their case to the Supreme Court to allow the Court to approve the recommendation, remand for further proceedings or modify the Commission’s recommendation (was, reject the recommendation) and also now allows imposing discipline at the Court’s discretion. Adds that if the Commission, while an investigation or proceedings is pending, finds that an immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the public or administration of justice if a trial judge subject to an investigation or proceeding remains in office until it is resolved, the chief justice, upon recommendation of the Commission, may suspend the judge without pay under rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. Requires that the rules ensure due process rights are afforded to the trial judges before being suspended. Restores compensation and ends the suspension immediately upon resolution of the proceeding unless the Supreme Court has ordered the judge removed or suspended. Makes conforming changes to the definition of suspend or suspension.

Section 29

Amends GS 14-16.10 by amending the definition of court officers as it applies to Article 5A, Endangering Executive, Legislative, Court, and Local Elected Officers, to also include trial court administrator or judicial support staff. Applies to offense committed on or after December 1, 2026.