If you recall, the Tea Party legislature in North Carolina was so angry that he Republican Governor Pat McCrory was narrowly defeated that they called a special session after the election to strip the new Governor, Roy Cooper, of many of his powers. This brazen act was criticized nationally as a coup, a power grab.

Governor Cooper sued, and a three-judge panel put a temporary hold on the new laws.

“The judges’ order blocks the state Senate from enforcing the cabinet confirmations law, at least until Friday, when another hearing the case is scheduled. A full trial on the case is expected to be held in March.

“The senators, you see, were holding confirmation hearings on one of Cooper’s cabinet appointees, even though the law authorizing a legislative role in cabinet appointments was being challenged in the courts.”

We will know soon enough if the party controlling the legislature can remove the governor’s powers in an act of pure vindictiveness.