[JURIST] A three-judge panel in North Carolina issued a temporary restraining order [text, PDF] Tuesday that limits a law [text, PDF] stripping the state’s new governor, Roy Cooper [official website], of some of his powers. The law required Senate approval for the Governor’s Cabinet nominees, a measure never required before. Cooper and his fellow Democrats have been critical of the measure the Republican legislature enacted it, calling [NYT report] it a “power grab.” State Senator Wesley Meredith [official profile] expressed concern over the court’s order. “Never before has a judge told the representatives elected by the citizens that they cannot hold a committee meeting as allowed by the constitution.” The court concluded that the governor had shown that there was a possible success in his case and that no restraining order would cause irreparable harm.

Several controversial North Carolina laws have been in the national news including Senate Bill 4 to restrict [JURIST report] the governor’s powers. In January the US Supreme Court blocked [JURIST report] a trial court’s ruling ordering special elections in North Carolina. The court granted a stay of the order of the US District court for the Middle District of North Carolina, which ruled that North Carolina must redraw congressional districts by March 15, 2017, and hold special primary and general elections by next fall. In December a bipartisan agreement to repeal North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” fell apart [JURIST report] after each party accused the other of reneging on promises. House Bill 2 is a state law requiring transgender people to use the public bathroom associated with the sex listed on their birth certificate.