This thread shouldn't necessarily be specific to North Carolina races, but the first of three debates between Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis will be on Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM.

9/1/2014 7:40:56 PM

With regard to amending the North Carolina Constitution in November, Section 24 of the NC Constitution currently reads:

Quote :

"No person shall be convicted of any crime but by the unanimous verdict of a jury in open court. The General Assembly may, however, provide for other means of trial for misdemeanors, with the right of appeal for trial de novo."

If approved in November, Section 24 will read:

Quote :

"No person shall be convicted of any crime but by the unanimous verdict of a jury in open court, except that a person accused of any criminal offense for which the State is not seeking a sentence of death in superior court may, in writing or on the record in the court and with the consent of the trial judge, waive jury trial, subject to procedures prescribed by the General Assembly. The General Assembly may, however, provide for other means of trial for misdemeanors, with the right of appeal for trial de novo."

https://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Portals/0/FilesP/constitutional-amendment.pdf
http://sogpubs.unc.edu/electronicversions/pdfs/nonjuryfelonytrials.pdf

[Edited on September 30, 2014 at 1:03 AM. Reason : ]

9/30/2014 12:56:37 AM

Good. Jury trials are often terrible and the accused should have the opportunity to avoid a jury pool that may hate him or be full of idiots.

9/30/2014 4:53:04 PM

http://www.theonion.com/articles/voters-excited-to-use-midterms-to-put-country-back,37167/

10/13/2014 10:27:23 PM