Find Legal Opinions
The Attorney General may issue legal opinions to state agencies and officials. These opinions provide advice on legal matters. While these opinions do not have the full effect of law or court order, they provide the State’s interpretation of the legal question presented and should be complied with by State agencies and officials.
Requesting a Legal Opinion
The General Assembly, Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, or any other State officer may ask the Attorney General for an opinion (N.C.G.S. § 114-2(5)).
- State officers may request opinions by writing to the Attorney General at the Attorney General’s Office, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001.
- The Attorney General is not authorized to provide legal advice or give legal opinions to the public.
Legal Opinion Copies
- Viewable/downloadable Attorney General opinions are available on this page approximately one week after issuance.
- Copies of opinions prior to 1977 can be obtained free of charge by calling (919) 716-6400 or emailing the office.
- Printed copies of opinions are also available at the NC Supreme Court Library and other law libraries across the state.
Legal Opinion Search
| Date | Title | Statute | Requestor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/15/01 | Appointments to the State Board of Education; State Employees | 115C-10, 116-7, | Freeman, Franklin |
| 05/09/01 | School Nurse Referral of Students to Health Department | 115C-81, 130A-135, 90-21.12, 90-21.5, | Dawkins, Koy |
| 05/08/01 | Authority to Disclose Police Officer Misconduct Information | 115C-321, 115D-29, 126-24, 153A-98, 16-36, 160A-168, | Sink, Robert |
| 03/21/01 | Legal Qualifications of Landscape Architects to Design Street and Storm Water Drainage Systems | 114-4.2G, 89A-1, 89A-2, 89A-4, 89A-8, 89C-2, 89C-23, 89C-25, 89C-3, | Carter, Jerry |
| 03/13/01 | Disposition of Surplus State Property by a Council of Government | N/A | Goodwin, Wayne |
| 03/11/01 | Consolidation of the Gaston County Police Department with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office | 153A-76, | Jenkins, Heath |
| 03/06/01 | Territorial Jurisdiction of Company Police Officers | 160A-20.1, 160A-281, 160A-282, 17C-2, 74E-6, | Hudson, G. Dewey |
| 03/06/01 | Authority of County to Impose Late Payment Penalty or Administrative Fee | 105-272, 105-312, 105-330.4, 105-355, 105-360, 153A-121, 153A-146, 153A-149, | Smith, Lloyd |
| 02/16/01 | Conflict of Interest; Legislators | 120-104, 120-120, 120-88, 14-234, 14-236, | Mitchell, Burley |
| 02/08/01 | Timing of Permit Requirement for Air Contaminant Sources | 143-215.1, 143-215.108, | Klimek, Alan |
| 02/07/01 | Territorial Jurisdiction of Company Police Agencies | 106A-281, 74E-6, | Hudson, G. Dewey |
| 02/05/01 | State Building Code; County Regulations Requiring Installation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms | 130A-39, 143-138, 153A-77, | Sawyer, Grover |
| 01/04/01 | Freedom of Information Act | 130A-304, 132-6, | McLawhorn, Daniel |
| 01/02/01 | Congress’ Power to Require States to Enact Open Container Restrictions | 20-138.7, | Basnight, Marc |
| 12/15/00 | Funeral Service | 90-210.25, | Weisel, Michael |
| 12/14/00 | Length of Term of Office for Superior Court District 24C | 163-9, 7A-41, | Ferrell, Forest |
| 11/17/00 | Dual Office Holding | 128-1, 128-1.1, 128-1.2, | Sutton, Ronnie |
| 11/01/00 | Onslow County Hospital Authority; Appointment of Hospital Authority Commissioners | 131E-18, 131E-21, 131E-22, 147-64.6, | Bode, Robert |
| 10/02/00 | Purchase of Omitted Service-Eligibility to Receive Retirement Benefits Tax | 128-21, 128-26, 143-166, 143-166.50, | Karpinos, Ralph |
| 09/20/00 | Applicability of Watauga County Ordinances to UNC-TV Tower in Waauga County | 153A-121, 153A-340, 153A-347, | Hedrick, Jeffery |
| 09/11/00 | Investigate an Abuse Complaint Involving a Juvenile | 131D-10.2, 131D-10.4, 7B-101, 7B-1501, 7B-302, | Siler, Lowell |
| 09/06/00 | North Carolina Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Planning Committees | 143-215.104, 143-291, 143-300.2, 143-300.6, 166A-14, | Tolbert, Eric |
| 07/20/00 | Traffic Law Enforcement Statistics; Public Records | 114-10, | Dugdale, Joseph |
| 06/30/00 | Employment Referral Incentive Awards | 126-18, | Penny, Ronald |
| 06/14/00 | Powers of the NC Board of Massage and Bodywork | 110-85, 115D-95, 12-3.1, 131E-100, 90-620, 90-621, 90-625, 90-626, 90-629, 90-631, | Wilkins, Charles |
| 06/14/00 | Definition of Adequate | 115D-32, 115D-33, 115D-34, | Gasper, Ted |
| 06/08/00 | Sale of Undeveloped Real Property by Brunswick County Hospital Authority | 131E-13, 131E-15, 131E-6, 153A-176, | Edwards, Roger |
| 06/07/00 | Video Games or Video Poker Machines | 14-295, 14-297, 14-304, 14-305, 14-306, 14-309, | Soles, R.C. |
| 06/05/00 | Lose Control Lose Your License Legislation and Home Schools | 20-11, | Peterson, R. Glen |
| 05/31/00 | Competitive Bidding of Professional Services Contracts | 136-28.1, 143-64.31, 143-64.32, | Hill, Len |
| 05/09/00 | Lawfulness of Environmental Management Commission Members’ Offices and Actions of Commissions | 128-6, 128-7, 143B-283, 143B-299, 143B-301.12, 143B-313.2, | Holman, William |
| 05/05/00 | State Educational Assistance Authority; Power to Implement Institutional Student Loan Program | 116-201, 116-203, 116-204, 116-208, 116-209.3, | Brooks, Steven |
| 04/17/00 | Close Security Prison Construction | 143-128, 143-129, 146-37, 148-37, | High, Robert |
| 04/14/00 | Authority to Demand and Use Part of Public Facility as Voting Place | 163-129, | Crews, Angie |
| 04/14/00 | Defense of Officers and Directors of University-related Nonprofit Organizations | 1-539.10, 143-300.2, 143-300.3, 55A-1-01, 55A-2-02, 55A-8-60, | Steimer, William |
| 04/12/00 | Private Prisons | 14-256.1, 15A-401, 15A-404, 15A-405, 160A-288, 160A-288.1, 162-35, 17E-8, 74E-2, 74E-6, | Balance, Frank |
| 04/10/00 | Town of Highlands; Proposed Agreement for Condemnation of Bowery Road | 136-44.1, 136-66.1, 136-66.3, 136-66.4, 160A-11, 160A-16, 160A-20.1, 160A-4, 160A-75, | Coward, William |
| 04/05/00 | Powers of the Victims Compensation Commission and its Director | 15B-10, 15B-11, | Adams, A.A. |
| 03/27/00 | Imposition of Ad Valorem Taxes Upon Real Property | 105-273, 105-278.1, 105-302, 105-312, 105-380, | Marshall, Huey |
| 03/21/00 | Present-Use Valuation | 105-277.3, 105-277.4, 105-283, | Howard, Julia |
| 03/21/00 | Consequences of Proposed Amendments to Article 9 of UCC | 104G-8, 143-291, 25-4-407, 25-9-407, | Templeton, Franklin |
| 03/14/00 | Approval and Licensing of Massage and Bodywork Therapy Schools | 115D-88, 115D-89, 115D-95, 115D-96, 115D-97, 90-625, 90-626, 90-629, 90-631, | Hines, Clay |
| 03/08/00 | Proposed Acquisition of Rex Healthcare by the University of North Carolina Health Care System | 116-37, 143-300.2, 143B-469.1, 55A-12-02, | Blue, Daniel |
| 03/07/00 | Medical Staff Requirement for Births in Hospitals | 131E-76, | Kramer, Howard |
| 03/06/00 | Constitutionality of Requiring Payment of Use Tax | 105-164.16, 105-164.6, 105-269.14, | Allred, Cary |
| 02/17/00 | Authority of UNC Health Care System to Acquire Control of Rex Hospital | 116-37, 126-5, | Ehringhaus, Susan |
| 02/09/00 | Scope of Authority of Commissioner of Insurance | 116B-1, 116B-2, 116B-51, 116B-53, 116B-56, 116B-59, 58-1-1, 58-2-60, 58-2-70, 58-63-50, | Kolbe, Peter |
| 01/14/00 | Seizure of Vehicles for Offenses Involving Impaired Driving | 20-28.3, 20-28.5, | Inabinett, David |
| 12/21/99 | Increase in the Number of Commissioners | 131E-16, 131E-18, | Millar, William |
| 12/13/99 | Proposed Disaster Relief Programs | N/A | Basnight, Marc |
