§ 8-53.4. School counselor privilege. - North Carolina Statutes

§8‑53.4.  School counselor privilege.

No person certified by theState Department of Public Instruction as a school counselor and duly appointedor designated as such by the governing body of a public school system withinthis State or by the head of any private school within this State shall becompetent to testify in any action, suit, or proceeding concerning anyinformation acquired in rendering counseling services to any student enrolledin such public school system or private school, and which information wasnecessary to enable him to render counseling services; provided, however, thatthis section shall not apply where the student in open court waives theprivilege conferred. Any resident or presiding judge in the district in whichthe action is pending may compel disclosure, either at the trial or priorthereto, if in his opinion disclosure is necessary to a proper administrationof justice. If the case is in district court the judge shall be the districtcourt judge, and if the case is in superior court the judge shall be a superiorcourt judge. (1971, c. 943; 1983, c. 410, ss. 4, 5.)