N.C. Gen. Stat. § 164-45: Administrative direction and supervision.

The Commission shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Commission shall exercise all of its prescribed statutory powers independently of the head of that Office, except that all management functions shall be performed under the direction and supervision of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. "Management functions," as used in this section, means planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, and budgeting. (1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1076, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 812, s. 12; c. 816, s. 1; 1993, c. 253, s. 5.1; c. 321, s. 200.1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 591, s. 6(a); 1995, c. 236, s. 1; 1997-256, s. 6; 1997-347, s. 2; 1997-401, s. 2; 1997-418, s. 2; 1997-443, s. 18.6(a).)