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NC judge temporarily blocks law stripping Gov.-elect's powers

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov.-elect Roy Cooper has filed a lawsuit that asks the courts to block a law passed earlier this month that strips him of some of his powers.

RELATED: Lawmakers adjourn session curbing governor's powers

Cooper, a Democrat, said the Senate Bill 4, which takes control of the State Board of Elections from the governor and gives it to the General Assembly, is unconstitutional.

"This complex new law passed in just two days by the Republican legislature is unconstitutional and anything but bipartisan," Cooper said. "A tie on a partisan vote would accomplish what many Republicans want: making it harder for North Carolinians to vote. It will result in elections with longer lines, reduced early voting, fewer voting places, little enforcement of campaign finance laws, indecision by officials and mass confusion."

A judge granted a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon to keep the law from going into effect Jan. 1.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens ruled Friday that the risk to free and fair elections justified stopping the law from taking effect this weekend until it could be reviewed more closely. Stephens plans to review the law Thursday.

Sen. Phil Berger, president pro tempore of the Republican-controlled Senate, issued a statement Friday on the governor-elect’s lawsuit:

"Given the recent weeks-long uncertainty surrounding his own election, the governor-elect should understand better than anyone why North Carolinians deserve a system they can trust will settle election outcomes fairly and without the taint of partisanship. Roy Cooper's effort to stop the creation of a bipartisan board with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans to enforce elections and ethics laws may serve his desire to preserve his own political power, but it does not serve the best interests of our state."

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