Any resident judge of the superior court of the district in which the property insured is located is designated as the judge of the court of record to select the umpire referred to in the standard form of policy as set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-44-16(f)(14). The judge may not select the umpire until all of the following conditions have been met:

(1)        Proof of notice to all parties of record has been filed with the court, and at least 15 days have passed since the filing of the proof of notice.

(2)        Upon the request of any party of record, the judge has conducted a hearing. The hearing by the judge shall be governed by the practice for hearings in other civil actions before a judge without a jury and shall be limited to the issue of umpire selection. ?(1945, c. 378; 2013-199, s. 23.)