Governor Josh Stein has announced he will not appeal a trial court’s ruling regarding Senate Bill 382, which involves changes to the State Highway Patrol’s structure. In his statement, Governor Stein emphasized the importance of accountability among public safety leaders in North Carolina.
“I brought this lawsuit to ensure that our public safety leaders are accountable to the people of North Carolina, as required by our state’s Constitution. Making a Commander of the State Highway Patrol unremovable for any reason would threaten public safety, and I am relieved the Court did not endorse such a result,” he said. “I continue to have confidence in Colonel Freddy Johnson’s ability to lead the State Highway Patrol effectively, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to keep people safe.”
The governor challenged Senate Bill 382 due to its ambiguous language concerning his constitutional authority over removing the Commander of the State Highway Patrol until 2030. The bill could have been interpreted as preventing removal under any circumstance, even if misconduct occurred.
A three-judge panel ruled last month that Senate Bill 382 was not clearly unconstitutional. Although Governor Stein disagrees with some aspects of this decision, he acknowledges it affirms his constitutional power to remove a Commander and sees no need for an appeal at present.
