Written by Don Byrd
After a trial court ruled North Carolina’s school voucher system unconstitutional, the state’s Supreme Court has now stepped in to hear the appeal directly, bypassing the Court of Appeals. The move should speed up resolution of the dispute, in which courts have ruled the program unlawful while also allowing initial voucher funds to be distributed.
The Charlotte Observer reports:
“All parties should be delighted with this development because the case was ultimately headed for the N.C. Supreme Court regardless of the decision by the N.C. Court of Appeals,” N.C. House Speaker Pro Tem Paul Stam said in a news release.
Burton Craige, attorney for plaintiffs in one of the cases, said he is glad the process will move ahead more swiftly.
“No one had requested it, so it’s unusual,” Craige said. “But we welcome prompt review by the Supreme Court and a prompt ruling, so that no more taxpayer funds are spent on this unconstitutional program.”
Still, it is likely to be months until oral arguments are heard before the court, Craige said.
Stay tuned.
