Patterson Harkavy files lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of December 2016 special session

Yesterday, Patterson Harkavy filed a lawsuit on behalf of Common Cause and ten North Carolina citizens. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the North Carolina General Assembly's fourth extra session in December 2016.

At the heart of the challenge is a violation of citizens’ constitutional right to “instruct their representatives” – a right expressly guaranteed by Article I, Section 12 of the North Carolina Constitution. Legislative leaders provided public notice of the December special session only two hours before the session was convened and gave no notice of the topics that would be addressed. Since 1960, the General Assembly enacted legislation in 26 special sessions. In every one of those special sessions – except the Fourth Extra Session in December 2016 – the legislature or governor provided advance notice of the time and purpose of the special session.

After convening the Fourth Extra Session, legislative leaders modified the rules of the House and Senate to speed up the legislative process and curtail participation in committee meetings, effectively eliminating debate and deliberation.

The absence of public notice and wholesale changes to the legislative rules made it virtually impossible for North Carolina citizens to communicate with their representatives about the sweeping legislation proposed and enacted during the Fourth Extra Session.

The lawsuit has received coverage at the News and Observer, WRAL, and Common Cause NC.