Another theory why most judges can't officiate: They don't want to.
N.C. Bar Association spokesman Russell Rawlings said he's now heard a second theory on why judges higher than the magistrate level can't perform weddings.
He said that state law allowed it at one point, but elected judges felt that it was an imposition. Since they run for office regularly, they had a hard time saying no to requests from voters, but they felt it was a drain on their time.
"They felt they would end up marrying anyone who wanted to pop into a courtroom, get married and move on," he said.
Neither Rawlings nor Dome has yet found evidence to back up this theory in newspaper archives or on the legislative Web site.
A bill introduced this session would allow retired state judges to officiate.
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