Court Refuses Cooper's Request To Delay Senate Confirmation Process PDF Print E-mail
State Government
By Administrator   
Tuesday, 14 February 2017 13:29
Senate confirmation hearings for Governor Cooper’s cabinet appointees will proceed according to a superior court three-judge-panel.
 
Cooper has named and installed cabinet secretaries on an acting basis, but has not formally informed the Senate of his appointments.  Instead, he has challenged the Senate confirmation law passed in a December special session arguing in a lawsuit that the measure is unconstitutional.  Cooper asked the court to hold up the confirmation process until his lawsuit is resolved and the judges agreed to temporarily block the proceedings. 
 
However, judges Jesse Caldwell, Todd Burke and Jeff Foster lifted the temporary restraining order finding that since the unconfirmed cabinet appointees were on the job, the governor had not suffered any harm. If any of the governor’s cabinet choices are rejected by the Senate before the governor’s lawsuit is heard, the judges said Cooper could come back to the court for relief. 
 
Cooper’s lawsuit is expected to go to trial in March.
 
Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 February 2017 13:32
 
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