North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed a bill on Friday that would have mandated more minors accused of serious crimes to be automatically tried as adults in court. The bill, House Bill 834, passed with significant bipartisan support before being vetoed by Cooper, who sided with critics of the measure.
The opposition to automatically prosecuting children in adult court was seen as a way to help young people avoid public, lifetime criminal records for one-time mistakes. It also aimed to provide access to youth-centered resources within the juvenile system, which does not make records public.
“I remain concerned that this new law would keep some children from getting treatment they need while making communities less safe,” Cooper wrote in his veto message.
The American Civil Liberties Union also expressed concerns, stating that prosecuting children as adults causes harm and does not address the underlying causes of youth crime. They argued that the juvenile justice system provides more accountability, counseling, education, and family involvement, leading to lower recidivism rates.
Republican Sen. Danny Britt, who spearheaded the bill, defended the legislation, stating that it aimed to improve efficiency in the courts. The bill now returns to the General Assembly, where lawmakers will attempt to override the governor’s veto.
North Carolina was the last state where minors aged 16 and 17 were automatically prosecuted as adults before the “Raise the Age” law was enacted. The bill would have ended the transfer requirement for most high-level felonies, automatically placing cases of minors in adult court.
Governor Cooper emphasized that while most violent crimes committed by teenagers should be handled in adult court, there are cases where juvenile court may be more effective and appropriate. The bill would have also established a new process for transferring cases from Superior Court to juvenile court if both the prosecutor and the defendant’s attorney agree.
The legislation would have also increased penalties for adults who solicit minors to commit crimes. The bill now awaits further action in the General Assembly.
