Juvenile Appeals

The trial judge who presides over a hearing or trial is supposed to, and usually does, sign the resulting written order. But what happens if that normal process is not
Continue Reading Can You Appeal from a Nullity?

On Friday, the Supreme Court displayed how busy it has been this summer by releasing 17 authored opinions.  Justice Per Curiam (who is fond of affirming/reversing “for the reasons
Continue Reading Taking Care of Business (Part I): Rule 3.1 No-Merit Briefs Warrant (At Least Some Form of) Appellate Review

It is beginning to feel like a bi-annual holiday tradition between me and our blog readers: another rule-update summary.  Yesterday afternoon, the Supreme Court issued its latest order amending the
Continue Reading Supreme Court Issues Order Amending the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure: 2018 Holiday Edition

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals issued its latest batch of opinions. Good news: the impending turkey feast has not slowed the court’s pace in grappling with interesting appellate issues. 
Continue Reading No-Merit Briefs, the Pro Bono Program, and En Banc Review

1) Have a right to appeal

In re P.K.M. involved a juvenile delinquency proceeding against a twelve-year-old boy who moved to suppress incriminating statements he had made to an investigating
Continue Reading Today’s Court of Appeals Opinions: Three Ways to Avoid Dismissal of an Appeal