District attorney is removed from office under rarely used state law
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A North Carolina district attorney was removed from office Tuesday in a process that began with an affidavit filed by a grassroots group of victims’ families.
Using a little-known state law, the families claimed that district attorney Gregory Newman should be removed for mishandling cases and failing to prosecute felonies, the Asheville Citizen Times reports.
The process culminated in a removal order by Superior Court Judge Robert C. Ervin, who appointed independent counsels, had a hearing and found that Newman had engaged in willful misconduct in office. His findings were based on two disciplinary cases involving dropped charges and a failure to notify a victim of a plea deal. In both cases, Newman made false statements to the state bar, Ervin said.
The voice of victims has been heard.
District Attorney Greg Newman has been removed from office in only the third case of its kind in North Carolina history.
Superior Court Judge Robert C. Ervin issued his order April 27, permanently removing the top criminal prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties from his elected office, finding Newman engaged in “willful misconduct in office” and “conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the office into disrepute,” under N.C. General Statute 7A-66.
The decision was made nearly two weeks after a three-day removal hearing April 12-14 in Henderson County Superior Court.
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Henderson Co. prosecutor removed for ‘willful misconduct’
HENDERSONVILLE (AP) A western North Carolina district attorney is being removed from his elected office after a judge issued an order finding the prosecutor engaged in “willful misconduct.”
The removal of Greg Newman, the top prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties, is only the third of its kind in state history, the Asheville Citizen Times reported Tuesday.
The judge’s decision followed a grassroots campaign by families of crime victims who alleged Newman had mishandled cases and failed to prosecute felonies.
Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin issued an order Tuesday finding Newman had engaged in “willful misconduct in office” and “conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the office into disrepute.”