N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-339.3A: Judge or clerk may order public or private sale.

The judge or clerk of court having jurisdiction has authority in his discretion to determine whether a sale of either real or personal property shall be a public or private sale and whether a public sale of timber shall be by auction or by sealed bid. Any private sale conducted under an order issued prior to July 1, 1955 by a judge or clerk of court having jurisdiction is hereby validated as to the order that the sale be a private sale. (1955, c. 74; 1971, c. 268, s. 18; 1997-83, s. 1.)