Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC) and U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation supported by the entire North Carolina delegation to reduce the burden on defendants by consolidating Fort Bragg into one federal judicial district whose courthouse is in Fayetteville. 

 

Fort Bragg is located in six North Carolina counties: Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Scotland, and Randolph. Cumberland and Harnett are located in the Eastern District, while the other four counties are in the Middle District. A similar redistricting occurred several years ago when Congress moved FCI Butner into the Eastern District.

 

“The current judicial district boundaries cause significant logistical issues for court operations and hardships for defendants,” said the Members. “Rather than having their matters heard in Fayetteville, which is often closer to their homes and work, defendants arrested or cited in the Middle District portion of Fort Bragg are forced to travel to Durham, Greensboro, or Winston-Salem. The boundaries also make it difficult for the court to ensure defendants receive notice of their rights. This bipartisan legislation alleviates these issues by redefining the Eastern and Middle judicial districts of North Carolina so that any matter occurring on Fort Bragg Military Reservation will be heard in the Eastern District.”

 

The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), David Price (D-NC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Kathy Manning (D-NC), David Rouzer (R-NC), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Alma Adams (D-NC), and Ted Budd (R-NC).