Constitutional Conversation - Separation of Powers

On November 17, the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law hosted another Constitutional Conversations program, this time on the campus of Campbell University Law School.  The program discussed the delicate, nuanced, and sometimes confusing balance of power that is created between the governor and the legislature when the State incurs a budget shortfall.

Justice Bob Orr moderated the lively and engaging discussion of balanced budget powers by a distinguished panel of presenters who explained with refreshing candor and insight what happens practically and legally during a state budget crisis, from the time the Budget is passed by the legislature, to when it is administered by Governor, to when it is challenged in the courts.  The panelists included:

• Justice Franklin Freeman, a former Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Governor’s Chief of Staff, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, and current lobbyist.
• Dan Gerlach, former Budget Director for Governor Easley and current President of the Golden Leaf Foundation.
• Gene Nichol, a constitutional scholar, former Dean of the UNC Law School, President of William & Mary, and current Director of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at UNC Law School.
• Paul Stam, frequent advocate for constitutional restraint in government, litigant in several important state constitutional cases, and current attorney and Minority Leader of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

The N.C. Constitution took center stage during this engaging program which one participant called “the most interesting program I’ve attended in years!”