General Counsel Manual

What is litigation?

Litigation is the process of engaging in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. The act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court is also referred to as litigation.

(Source: Litigation Definition & Meaning))

Who represents the Secretary of State in litigation?

In most litigation, the Department of the Secretary of State is represented by the North Carolina Attorney General and the attorneys in the Department of Justice.

Some decisions of Administrative Law Judges in cases involving the Department of the Secretary of State are published on the website of the Office of Administrative Hearings.

For service of process on the Department pursuant to G.S. § 1A-1, Rule 4(j)(4):

Ann Wall, General Counsel

North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State

P.O. Box 29622

Raleigh, NC 27626-0622

By courier or other delivery service: 2 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601.

North Carolina Courts

The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts website includes information about:

• The North Carolina Judicial System
• North Carolina Courts and judges
• Court calendars
• North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions and orders
• Other information

Visit the Administrative Office of the Courts website for information about court records, county courthouse directory, court dates, citation tickets, criminal background checks, appellate court, business court, eCourts, eFiling, and more.

Contracts

State Purchases and Contracts Law

The Article 3 Purchases and Contracts page provides the law in digital form via the NC General Assembly website.

Chapter 143 - Article 3 of the North Carolina General Statutes is about purchases and contracts.

The policy of Chapter 143, Article 3 is “…to encourage and promote the use of small contractors, minority contractors, physically handicapped contractors, and women contractors in State purchasing of goods and services. All State agencies, institutions and political subdivisions shall cooperate with the Department of Administration and all other State agencies, institutions and political subdivisions in efforts to encourage the use of small contractors, minority contractors, physically handicapped contractors, and women contractors in achieving the purpose of this Article, which is to provide for the effective and economical acquisition, management and disposition of goods and services by and through the Department of Administration.”