James B. Black

In 2005 and 2006, Black was linked to a series of scandals involving, among other things, the party-switching Rep. Michael P. Decker, and the North Carolina lottery, established the previous year. The proceedings led to convictions for several involved figures, including Decker, media and public relations consultant Kevin L. Geddings and political aide Meredith Norris. Decker testified under oath that he instigated a bribery scheme of which Black was alleged to be a "co-conspirator". Black has consistently denied those allegations.

Although Black was not indicted while serving as speaker, the situation drew ire from the North Carolina Republican Party, which involved the scandal in their November election campaigns.Christensen, Rob. [http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/498125.html "Trial shows capital's shady side."]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. The News & Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina. October 13, 2006. Retrieved October 17, 2006.

Black was re-elected in November 2006, over Republican political novice Hal Jordan. Meanwhile, he led efforts to increase the Democratic majority in the State House.

In December 2006, Black announced that he would not seek another term as Speaker.[http://www.newsobserver.com/1179/story/520938.html "Black drops out of speaker race"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110233940/http://www.newsobserver.com/1179/story/520938.html |date=2007-01-10 }}. The News & Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina. December 13, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006. That was followed in January 2007 by his announcement that he would not run for re-election to the House in 2008.[http://dwb.newsobserver.com/news/ncwire_news/story/3020700p-9440220c.html newsobserver.com | NC News Wire]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Black pleaded guilty to a federal charge of public corruption on February 15, 2007, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.[https://www.newsobserver.com] | MAY 10, 2015 | Former House Speaker Jim Black’s law finds new life | Rob Christensen | [https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/rob-christensen/article20609109.html] He admitted to accepting funds from chiropractors while their professional group had legislation pending in the North Carolina General Assembly. As a result, he resigned from the General Assembly on February 14, 2007.[http://www.newsobserver.com/1179/story/543491.html newsobserver.com | Black pleads guilty to corruption charge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217231926/http://www.newsobserver.com/1179/story/543491.html |date=2007-02-17 }}

Federal prosecutors have said the plea deal with Black involves his assistance in their continued investigation into political corruption in North Carolina government.

Black's agreement with federal prosecutors did not protect him from state prosecution.[http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/16691395.htm Home Page | www.charlotteobserver.com] Indeed, days after his federal plea, he entered into a separate Alford plea agreement with the district attorney of Wake County, whose jurisdiction includes the state capital, Raleigh.[http://www.newsobserver.com/1179/story/545476.html newsobserver.com | Black's tumble continues with new plea]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On July 11, 2007, Black was sentenced by Judge Terrence Boyle to five years, three months in prison, three years of probation, and a $50,000 fine.[http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/633483.html newsobserver.com | Jim Black gets 63 months in prison] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713212320/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/633483.html |date=2007-07-13 }} Black was sentenced in state court as well in 2007 and 2009, but was allowed to serve his state sentences concurrently with his federal prison time.[http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/654479.html newsobserver.com | Black sentenced, fined $1 million] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920072827/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/jimblack/story/654479.html |date=2007-09-20 }}[http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1610060.html News & Observer: Jim Black sentenced for bribery] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719080538/http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1610060.html |date=2009-07-19 }}

In 2010, Black was released from federal prison in Georgia and returned to Mecklenburg County to serve the remaining six months of his term either at a halfway house or under house arrest.{{cite web |url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/jim_black_released_from_prison |title=Jim Black released from prison | newsobserver.com projects |accessdate=2010-10-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401164902/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/jim_black_released_from_prison |archivedate=2012-04-01 }}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070509225738/http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome/profiles/jim_black News & Observer "Under the Dome" Profile of Black]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111015085137/http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/series.html?id=23 Carolina Journal - Spotlight on Speaker Jim Black]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008074615/http://media.gatewaync.com/wsj/pdfs/2007/02/15/plea_forms.pdf Black's Plea Agreement with U.S. Attorneys]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-nc-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Marilyn R. Bissell}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 36th district|years=1981–1985|alongside=Louise Smith Brennan, Ruth Easterling, Gus Nickolas Economos, Jo Graham Foster, Harold Parks Helms, LeRoy Page Spoon, Jr., Benjamin Thompson Tison, III, Philip O. Berry}}

{{s-aft|after=Raymond Allan Warren}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Lawrence Edward Diggs}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 36th district|years=1991–2003}}

{{s-aft|after=David Miner}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Constituency established}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 100th district|years=2003–2007}}

{{s-aft|after=Tricia Cotham}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Harold Brubaker}}

{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives|years=1999–2007|alongside=Richard Morgan (2003–2005)}}

{{s-aft|after=Joe Hackney}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black, James B.}}

Category:1935 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Matthews, North Carolina

Category:Lenoir–Rhyne University alumni

Category:American optometrists

Category:Speakers of the North Carolina House of Representatives

Category:Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives

Category:People who entered an Alford plea

Category:North Carolina politicians convicted of crimes

Category:Politicians convicted of program bribery

Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly

Category:20th-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly