You can hit your snooze button a little later on Tuesdays. Effective January 1, 2025, the Court of Appeals’ scheduled filing days for opinions will be the first and third Wednesday of the month, Since the Court will be issuing a big batch of opinions on New Year’s Eve (and no one wants to read
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“So, What’s Going on Here?” North Carolina Supreme Court Clarifies Level of Detail Required to Demonstrate Right to Interlocutory Appeal Under the Substantial Right Doctrine
In appeals, the general rule is that litigants cannot appeal an interlocutory order until a final judgment is entered. But in North Carolina, a major statutory exception to the general rule exists: When the trial court’s interlocutory ruling “affects a substantial right” that will be lost absent immediate appellate review. See N.C. Gen. Stat. §…
Christmas in September: New Features Added to North Carolina’s Appellate Filing Website
The Supreme Court’s Technology Department has done it again. Quietly adding even more features to the appellate courts’ electronic filings site, www.ncappellatecourts.org.
The filing site has long allowed attorneys and the public to locate and view records, briefs, and other appellate filings by using a flexible search engine. A few years ago, a direct…
We’re Not Reading All That! The Court of Appeals Sanctions One Appellant While Warning Everyone Else Not to Use an Appendix to Violate the Court of Appeals Word-Count Limit
It’s not every day that the Court of Appeals spends almost 12 pages talking about the appellate rules, including why rules compliance is so important. But that’s exactly what the Court of Appeals did in Harney v. Harney. Why? The appellant’s brief used an appendix to circumvent the 8,750 word-count limit. And then the…
Does a Dissenting Opinion Control the Supreme Court?
A dissenting opinion in the Court of Appeals has long been a litigant’s Golden Ticket, at least until a recent statutory change. The mere existence of the dissent bestowed an automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. But what if the dissenting opinion didn’t track what you argued? What if…
Southern Hospitality: Difference Between Leaving an Error Preservation Door Unlocked And Inviting Someone to “Come on In”
When you read about someone breaking into an unlocked door in rural North Carolina you may hear sighs about the death of the good old days. But leave the front door wide open all night and even the sweetest southern grandma will shake her head in disbelief. That’s the picture that comes to my mind…
Upcoming CLE with Law School Deans
There is no shortage of CLE offerings, but we wanted to bring one to your attention: a virtual presentation on September 24, 2024. The program offers 8 credit hours, including 3 ethics hours. Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will give his entertaining review of recent decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. Former N.C. Chief…
Smells Like Teen Spirit? Can an Odor of Marijuana Provide Probable Cause for a Search?
A recent opinion out of the North Carolina Court of Appeals is causing comment in the criminal bar. In In The Matter Of J.B.P, (No. COA23-269), a juvenile petition was filed against the juvenile, alleging possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver, and carrying a concealed weapon. The juvenile filed a motion to…
The Lights Are Still On: Oral Notices of Appeals in Criminal Cases
Morgan’s prior blog post on State v. McLean started the wheels turning on a topic I find fascinating: oral notices of appeal.
Civil lawyers love written notices of appeal. Have you ever heard a civil attorney say, “I wish I could orally notice an appeal”? Me neither. But the criminal trial bar overwhelmingly give oral…
At Trial: Court of Appeals Defines Time Within Which Oral Notice of Appeal May Be Given in Criminal Cases
Big news out of the Court of Appeals for criminal practitioners. In State v. McLean, the Court of Appeals addressed a notice of appeal that was given orally the day after the trial ended and the defendant was sentenced. There was no written notice of appeal.
I know what you’re thinking, and Mr. McLean’s…