AN ACT protecting judges' personal information.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

Article 3I.

Protect Judges' Personal Information.

§ 143‑64.85.  Personal information of judges protected.

(a)        The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1)        Immediate family member. – A spouse, child, or the spouse of a child.

(2)        Judge. – Any current or retired justice, judge, or magistrate of the General Court of Justice of North Carolina. The term includes a current or retired federal court justice, judge, or magistrate residing in this State.

(3)        Personal information. – A residence address, home telephone number, or drivers license number.

(4)        Public record. – As defined by G.S. 132‑1.

(b)        Upon written request of a judge or the immediate family member of a judge, each State agency, department, and institution and each clerk of court, register of deeds, and other local government official responsible for public records shall redact or omit the judge's personal information from a public record, and from any online public database, under the entity's or official's control.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 132‑1.2 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(10)    Reveals the personal information of judges and the immediate family members of judges protected under Article 3I of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.