N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-170: Nature of office and oath; age limit for service.

(a) A magistrate is an officer of the district court. Before entering upon the duties of his office, a magistrate shall take the oath of office prescribed for a magistrate of the General Court of Justice. A magistrate possesses all the powers of his office at all times during his term.

(b) No magistrate may continue in office beyond the last day of the month in which the magistrate reaches the mandatory retirement age for district judges specified in G.S. 7A-140.1. (1965, c. 310, s. 1; 1969, c. 1190, s. 13; 1977, c. 945, s. 2; 2013-277, s. 1; 2023-134, s. 16.14(k).)