Attorney General Jeff Jackson said he joined a legal challenge to the federal funding freeze out of concern for “widespread and immediate damage” to North Carolinians. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar)
North Carolina Republicans are once again seeking to curb the power of one of the state’s elected Democrats. A bill filed Wednesday in the state Senate would prevent Attorney General Jeff Jackson from joining lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Sens. Eddie Settle, Bobby Hanig, and Tim Moffitt are the primary sponsors of the succinct, one-page bill.
The legislation is 15 lines long.
“The Attorney General shall not, as a party, amicus, or any other participant in an action pending before a state or federal court in another state, advance any argument that would result in the invalidation of any statue enacted by the General Assembly or any executive order issued by the President of the United States,” the bill reads.
If passed, the measure would take effect when it becomes law, applying to actions filed on or after that date.
Jackson, who has been in office for about a month since getting elected in 2024, has already been involved in action challenging Trump. He joined a coalition of 18 Democratic attorneys general last month in filing a lawsuit to block Trump’s attempts to end birthright citizenship.
“As Attorney General, my role is straightforward as well: to defend the Constitution. That’s why I’ve joined this lawsuit, to uphold the rule of law and preserve the rights that have defined our nation for generations,” Jackson said in a statement at that time.
It’s not the first time Republicans have worked toward removing power from Democratic elected officials in North Carolina in recent months.
During the 2024 legislative session’s lame-duck period, Republican lawmakers introduced and passed a last-minute bill restricting the authorities of the governor and attorney general — positions held by Democrats.
Although then-Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the legislation, both chambers overrode his veto.
Republicans no longer have a complete supermajority in the legislature, making it an open question to whether they will be able to override gubernatorial vetoes.