‘Iryna’s Law’ heads to governor’s desk, though Charlotte leaders say the legal staff funding isn’t enough

(QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The General Assembly passed an extensive criminal justice reform bill following a heated debate on the NC House floor Monday afternoon. House Bill 307, entitled “Iryna’s Law,” promises changes to the judicial system, expands the death penalty, and provides more funding for prosecutors in Mecklenburg County. 

The law is named after Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed while riding Charlotte’s light rail in South End late last month. Mecklenburg County Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham said the bill offered members a chance to stop crime and “stand

up for not just Iryna, but for so many others.” 

The bill creates a code of conduct for magistrate judges, changes some pretrial processes, and requires those charged with a violent offense to go through a mental evaluation, if they had recently been committed to a mental health institution. Iryna’s law also allows North Carolina to execute death row inmates through additional methods, such as firing squads, if lethal injections are ruled unconstitutional.

The latter method remains on pause in the state due to an ongoing legal battle. 

Several House Democrats argued the bill does more to politicize Iryna’s murder than to prevent actual crime. 

“We’re boasting, ‘Oh, it will end our cashless bail system,’ no it doesn’t… unsecured bonds are still allowed, you don’t have to put up a dime,” said Durham County Rep. Marica Morey. 

Additionally, the bill sets aside more than $2 million in new funding to hire more prosecutors and legal staff in Mecklenburg County. But Charlotte’s City Council, even Republicans, argue that funding should be more in the ballpark of $10-15 million. 

“Frankly in my mind, it’s probably not enough,” said Councilmember Ed Driggs. “I don’t want to criticize anybody in Raleigh, but I’m just saying our message to them can be to tell them, what do we need?”  

Several Democrats voted with Republicans to pass Iryna’s law, 80-32. Gov. Josh Stein now has 10 days to either sign or veto the bill, otherwise it will go into law without his signature.