In Re Contempt Proceeding of Smith

HUSKINS, Justice.

In disposing of this case, we reach only one of the issues raised in the Court of Appeals, viz: May a judge in his discretion waive the requirement of local counsel found in G.S. 84-4.1(5) when an out-of-state attorney is admitted to limited practice in this State? Our answer to this question makes it unnecessary to consider other holdings and dicta of the Court of Appeals. We hold a trial judge cannot waive the requirement that local counsel be associated before an out-of-state attorney is admitted to limited practice in the courts of this State.

As a general rule, a…