Article 32.
Conference of District Attorneys.
§ 7A-411. Establishment and purpose.
There is created the Conference of District Attorneys of North Carolina, of which every district attorney in North Carolina is a member. The purpose of the Conference is to assist in improving the administration of justice in North Carolina by coordinating the prosecution efforts of the various district attorneys, by assisting them in the administration of their offices, and by exercising the powers and performing the duties provided for in this Article. (1983, c. 761, s. 152.)
§ 7A-412. Annual meetings; organization; election of officers.
(a) Annual Meetings. - The Conference shall meet annually at a time and place selected by the President of the Conference.
(b) Election of Officers. - Officers of the Conference are a President, a President-elect, a Vice-president, and other officers from among its membership that the Conference may designate in its bylaws. Officers are elected for one-year terms at the annual Conference, and take office on July 1 immediately following their election.
(c) Executive Committee. - The Executive Committee of the Conference consists of the President, the President-elect, the Vice-president, and four other members of the Conference. One of these four members shall be the immediate past president if there is one and if he continues to be a member.
(d) Organization and Functioning; Bylaws. - The bylaws may provide for the organization and functioning of the Conference, including the powers and duties of its officers and committees. The bylaws shall state the number of members required to constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Conference or the Executive Committee. The bylaws shall set out the procedure for amending the bylaws.
(e) Calling Meetings; Duty to Attend. - The President or the Executive Committee may call a meeting of the Conference upon 10 days' notice to the members, except upon written waiver of notice signed by at least three-fourths of the members. A member should attend each meeting of the Conference and the Executive Committee of which he is given notice. Members are entitled to reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses at the rate applicable to State employees. (1983, c. 761, s. 152.)
§ 7A-413. Powers of Conference.
(a) The Conference may:
(1) Cooperate with citizens and other public and private agencies to promote the effective administration of criminal justice.
(2) Assist prosecutors in the effective prosecution and trial of criminal offenses, and develop an advisory trial manual.
(3) Develop advisory manuals to assist prosecutors in the organization and administration of their offices, case management, calendaring, case tracking, filing, and office procedures.
(4) Cooperate with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concerning education and training programs for prosecutors and staff.
(5) Provide legal counsel and advice to the district attorneys and their staff related to the performance of their duties through attorneys employed by the Conference.
(b) The Conference may not adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
(c) The Conference shall approve all transfers of funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the offices of district attorneys prior to the Administrative Office of the Courts completing the transfer.
(d) Any legal counsel or advice provided by attorneys employed by the conference provided pursuant to subdivision (2) or (5) of subsection (a) of this section is confidential and privileged, including any documents or other communications made or used in connection with that legal counsel or advice. All communications or documents made confidential by this subsection are not "public records" as defined by G.S. 132-1 and shall not be open to public inspection, examination, or copying except as provided by G.S. 132-1.4(g). (1983, c. 761, s. 152; 1987, c. 827, s. 1; 2006-264, s. 29(b); 2022-47, s. 19; 2023-34, s. 3.)
§ 7A-414. Executive Director; clerical support.
The Conference shall employ an Executive Director and any necessary supporting staff to assist it in carrying out its duties. The Executive Director shall be an attorney licensed and eligible to practice in the courts of this State at the time of appointment and at all times during service as the Executive Director. (1983, c. 761, s. 152; 2023-34, s. 5.)
§ 7A-415. Resource prosecutors.
The Conference of District Attorneys may employ resource prosecutors as appointed by the executive director. A resource prosecutor shall be an attorney licensed and eligible to practice in the courts of this State and shall serve at the pleasure of the executive director. A resource prosecutor shall take the same oath of office as a district attorney in this State and shall be authorized to represent the State in any court of this State without taking an additional oath. When assisting a district attorney, a resource prosecutor shall have the same authority, power, and privileges as an assistant district attorney serving in the requesting district attorney's office. (2023-103, s. 6(a).)
§ 7A-416. Conference of District Attorneys legislative liaison.
The Conference of District Attorneys may designate liaison personnel to lobby for legislative action in accordance with Article 5 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes. (2023-103, s. 6(a).)