A three-judge panel at the North Carolina Superior Court ruled on Wednesday, Feb. 8 to temporarily block the new legislation that limit the governor’s executive power. The dispute has made power struggle between GOP and Democrat to intensify in North Carolina.
According to Reuters, the judges have taken side with the governor Roy Cooper to allow him electing his cabinet member without approval from the legislature. Following the concession of incumbent governor Republican Pat McCrory in the election last December, Cooper became the governor of North Carolina.
However, Republicans legislature tried to limit his executive power, by issuing the legislation in December that required him to have legislative confirmation for his cabinet appointments. Cooper fought back and sued the legislation, saying the legislation to be unprecedented and unconstitutional. Following the judge ruling on Wednesday, Cooper issued a statement.
"The court is absolutely correct in their decision,” Governor Cooper said. He later added that the court “should not be intimidated by threats from legislative leaders."
Republican legislature criticize the court ruling. They called the ruling to be a blatant overstep of the legislature’s constitutional authority as reported by ABC News.. Prior to the court ruling, Governor Cooper has selected and sworn in eight of his Cabinet members.
North Carolina legislature came into session in January and calling the Cabinet members as acting heads. The cabinet members is subject to dismissal under the legislation if the legislature do not give confirmation of their appointment.
The partisan power struggle between Democrat and Republican has intensified in North Carolina. The law was passed during McCrory administration to create a check and balance between executive and legislative. However, the law has ignited a power struggle when the new Governor Cooper refused to abide the new legislation imposed by Senate. Watch the report from CBS North Carolina when McCrory conceded to Cooper in North Carolina governor’s race in December below:
