Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

NC judge Belk resigns in face of misconduct probe

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A North Carolina judge facing misconduct charges and possible removal from the bench has resigned.

The Charlotte Observer reports Mecklenburg District Judge Bill Belk gave no reason for his decision in a brief resignation letter submitted Friday to a judge's assistant.

"I am resigning my judgeship effective this afternoon, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. I have enjoyed my friendship with you and my clerks, sheriffs, D.A.'s, attorneys and my fellow judges. Best of luck to all of you.

"P.S.," he wrote, "I hope this doesn't cause an inconvenience on scheduling next week."

Belk, 60, was elected in November 2008. He has been fighting allegations he broke state rules for judicial conduct by serving on the boards of at least two companies. He also faced discipline for a confrontation with Chief District Court Judge Lisa Bell after she refused his request for several days off to attend a board meeting of Sonic Automotive. The rule preventing judges from serving on boards is meant to avoid conflicts of interest.

Belk confronted Bell in the hallway after finding out he couldn't have the time off, calling her a "political hack" and behaving in the threatening and abusive way, according to the allegations against Belk.

Belk denied the accusations at a hearing last month before the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission in Raleigh. But last week, the judge said the board was going to recommend the state Supreme Court remove him from the bench.

Belk is the grandson of the founder of the Belk department store chain and nephew of former Charlotte Mayor John Belk. At his disciplinary hearing, the board's lawyer, Nancy Vecchia, suggested he is "a man clearly used to having his way."

"He does not like the fact that he is not in control anymore," she said. "He is not William Belk anymore. He is Judge Belk."

Belk also sent resignation letters to Gov. Beverly Perdue and Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker.

The Mecklenburg County Bar will hold an election first and recommend the top three vote-getters to Perdue, who will then pick a judge to finish the remainder of Belk's four-year term.