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
Continue Reading Southern Hospitality: Difference Between Leaving an Error Preservation Door Unlocked And Inviting Someone to “Come on In”court of appeals
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…
Continue Reading At Trial: Court of Appeals Defines Time Within Which Oral Notice of Appeal May Be Given in Criminal CasesCourt of Appeals Emphasizes Importance of Identifying the Proper Plaintiff
Before filing a complaint, make sure you have the correct name of your plaintiff. Otherwise, when you amend the complaint to add the correct plaintiff, you may lose the benefit of the relation back doctrine. …
Continue Reading Court of Appeals Emphasizes Importance of Identifying the Proper Plaintiff
There’s No Appeal Without the Right to Appeal
In its opinions issued on February 21, 2023, the NC Court of Appeals focused on how appellants must preserve their right to appeal issues if they want access to the appellate courts. …
Continue Reading There’s No Appeal Without the Right to Appeal
Relying on a Motion to Dismiss Response to Address Appellate Jurisdiction Arguments? Maybe Don’t Count on It
The Court of Appeals’ latest batch of opinions includes several reminders about the importance of proving that appellate jurisdiction is proper in an appellant’s opening brief. Not in a conclusory…
Continue Reading Relying on a Motion to Dismiss Response to Address Appellate Jurisdiction Arguments? Maybe Don’t Count on ItWhat 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?Unmasked: Court of Appeals to Begin Disclosing Identities and Votes of Members of Petition Panel … 90 Days Later
Court of Appeals Petition Rulings Unmasked…
Continue Reading Unmasked: Court of Appeals to Begin Disclosing Identities and Votes of Members of Petition Panel … 90 Days Later
The Panel of Theseus
Generally, you can ask a judge to change her mind, but you can’t ask her to change a different judge’s mind. For example, at the trial-court level, a judge can…
Continue Reading The Panel of Theseus
North Carolina Court of Appeals Offers Free Appellate CLE Courses
Desperately searching for COVID-safe CLE hours? The North Carolina Court of Appeals is offering appellate continuing legal education courses until the end of February 2021. According to the Court’s press…
Continue Reading North Carolina Court of Appeals Offers Free Appellate CLE Courses
No Appellate Judicial Primaries in 2020; Our Voter-Information Guide Is Ready
It continues to amaze me how difficult it is for the public to access basic information about the upcoming elections for open seats on the Supreme Court of North Carolina…
Continue Reading No Appellate Judicial Primaries in 2020; Our Voter-Information Guide Is Ready