When we cast our votes in North Carolina, we elect candidates to lots of offices.  With what is sometimes referred to as the “long ballot,” we vote more than 5,000 fellow citizens into office. Who are they?  For the most … Read more

Fred uses a county truck to go from inspection site to inspection site.  The truck is for work use only.  The inspections make up most of Fred’s work day.  His supervisor suspects that Fred is goofing off at times he … Read more

UPDATE February 2017:  In July 2016 the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction against elements of the 2013 legislation, prohibiting enforcement of the photo ID requirement described in this post.  The matter is before the United States … Read more

UPDATE February 2017:  In July 2016 the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction against enforcement of three elements of the of the 2013 legislation described in this post:  photo ID at the polls, end of same-day registration … Read more

If you go to work for someone else, the odds are great that you are an employee at will.  That’s the basic rule in North Carolina, as it is almost everywhere in the United States.  In North Carolina, it applies … Read more

Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is unconstitutional.  So said the Supreme Court of the United States on June 25, 2013, in the case of Shelby County v. Holder.  Section 4 identified the jurisdictions in the nation … Read more

UPDATE November 2013: In June 2013 the United States Supreme Court declared Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional.  That ruling made Section 5, discussed in the following post, unenforceable.  See these Coates Canon posts:  Supreme Court’s … Read more

It’s not a meeting that anyone wants.  The public works director is going to have to tell the truck driver that his poor performance is threatening his job.  The city manager is going to tell the police chief that a … Read more

A North Carolina city manager’s contract term is ending.  (Or maybe it’s the county manager.  The issues are the same.)  After June 30 she will have no further contract protection.  If she remains employed by the city after that date, … Read more

An elected member of a North Carolina city council dies or moves away or resigns.  Or a member of a board of county commissioners.  Or a county school board.  A vacancy is created.  The statutes are clear about who picks … Read more