Friday, June 12, 2015

North Carolina Legislature Overrides Veto Of Magistrates Recusal Bill

The North Carolina General Assembly yesterday overrode Governor Pat McCrory's veto of Senate Bill 2, Magistrate's Recusal For Civil Ceremonies.  The Senate vote to override, cast June 1, was 32-16. The House vote  yesterday was 69-41. (Vote history).  The bill provides that individual magistrates have the right to recuse themselves from performing all lawful marriages based on any sincerely held religious beliefs and that individual register of deeds personnel similarly may opt out of issuing marriage licenses. (See prior posting.) Raleigh News & Observer reports on the General Assembly's action.