North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wants to elevate a local judge to be a special Superior Court judge after the General Assembly rejected one of his recent choices.
Cooper announced Tuesday that longtime Wake County District Judge Craig Croom is his nominee to become a special trial court judge.
These judges are often brought in to handle complex cases or perform fill-in duties. They serve five-year terms if confirmed by the House and Senate.
The House voted down Cooper nominee Bryan Beatty in June. The legislature isn't scheduled to reconvene until November.
Croom served as a special Superior Court judge when then-Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed him in 2011. No legislative confirmation was required then. Croom's career also includes time as an administrative law judge, assistant district attorney and sheriff's deputy.