Governor Stein signed a state budget into law today, triggering happy headlines about teacher pay and investments in community colleges, amidst debates over a number of other provisions. Tweaks to our appellate system tend not to make the front page, but there is at least one thing worth noting.

Borrowing a page from the business court procedures, the law creates a new way for resolving “complex family financial claims.” Suppose, for instance, a divorcing couple seeks judicial intervention for equitable distribution. Historically, the state’s hardworking district court judges were responsible for parsing complicated questions about valuing businesses, trusts, and taxes, among other things. Under the new law, three new special superior court judges will be tapped with handling such complex claims upon the filing of an appropriate “Notice of Designation,” just like for complex business cases.

As relevant to the appellate bar, final judgments and appealable interlocutory decisions of such complex family financial court judges may be appealed to the Court of Appeals, via a new addition to N.C.G.S. 7A-27(b). This is, of course, not how business court decisions are appealed. Those go straight to the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Did you notice anything else in the budget bill that could affect the appellate bar?