NC judge says commission recommends his removal

CHARLOTTE — A North Carolina judge says a state panel has recommended his removal for misconduct after allegations he failed to resign as a corporate board director and fought with another judge.

Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Bill Belk told WCNC-TV he learned Wednesday the Judicial Standards Commission recommended his removal. Belk did not return a call Thursday to The Associated Press.

The grandson of the Belk department store chain’s founder says he expected the rebuke. He says he has been targeted for trying to reform the court system.

Judicial Standards Commission executive director Paul Ross says he can’t confirm any possible recommendations to the state Supreme Court, which would decide Belk’s fate.

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