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
Continue Reading Does a Dissenting Opinion Control the Supreme Court?Kip D. Nelson
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…
Continue Reading Upcoming CLE with Law School DeansWhat’s in a Name? Court of Appeals Strikes an “Appellee” Brief
Can an appellee say that the lower court got it wrong? If so, when?
In many appeals, the alignment of interests is clear: the appellant is the party who disagrees…
Continue Reading What’s in a Name? Court of Appeals Strikes an “Appellee” BriefCertiorari Petitions in the Court of Appeals: From Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary
Petitions for the writ of certiorari are a fairly routine part of North Carolina appellate practice and procedure, but the Appellate Rules do not provide much guidance on what those…
Continue Reading Certiorari Petitions in the Court of Appeals: From Ordinary to Extra-OrdinaryWhat Rulings Should You Include in a Notice of Appeal?
For both civil and criminal appeals, the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure require an appealing party who is filing a written notice of appeal to identify “the judgment or…
Continue Reading What Rulings Should You Include in a Notice of Appeal?Opinions and Orders and Options: A New Normal?
When you hear about an appellate decision, what comes to mind? Typically, I think of a formal “opinion”—at least when the appeal has been briefed on the merits. And historically…
Continue Reading Opinions and Orders and Options: A New Normal?You’re Invited: Three Upcoming Events
Hopefully all of our readers have seen the announcements and registered already, but if not: there are three appellate-related events before the end of the month.
First, there is an…
Continue Reading You’re Invited: Three Upcoming Events
Can You Pass Go with a Fee Award?
Back in November, I wrote about the possibility of a fee award being immediately appealable if the amount in question is significant enough. In the latest batch of opinions from…
Continue Reading Can You Pass Go with a Fee Award?
A Loch Ness Sighting: A Writ Decision with a Dissent
There was a time when I thought of a writ of prohibition as a mythical creature that only exists in fairy tales. As it turns out, the writ does exist.
Continue Reading A Loch Ness Sighting: A Writ Decision with a Dissent
Interlocutory Review of Fee Awards: How Much Is Too Much?
Normally, an interlocutory order awarding attorney fees is not immediately appealable because it does not affect a substantial right that will be lost absent immediate review. But is there a…
Continue Reading Interlocutory Review of Fee Awards: How Much Is Too Much?