The judges rotate district assignments every six months within one of the four Superior Court Divisions. Criminal Jury trials take place only in the Superior Court in North Carolina. The Superior Court hears all felony cases, and any misdemeanor appeals from a conviction in the district court . Felony cases may only be tried after indictment by the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is comprised of 18 citizens in each county.
Members serve for one year, with nine new members being selected each six months.
Typically the Grand Jury meets about once a month in each of the four counties. The Grand Jury typically listens to evidence presented by the investigating officer and decides if a crime has probably been committed, and did the person charged probably commit the crime. The Honorable Sanford L. Steelman Resident Superior Court Judge P.0.