North Carolina Supreme Court Decisions

Founded in 1799, the North Carolina Supreme Court is located in Raleigh. It holds jurisdiction over questions of law presented by cases in lower courts and proceedings in administrative agencies. The Court also has developed the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct, which provides seven canons to guide the actions of judges throughout the state. The Code emphasizes impartiality, independence, transparency, and other values that preserve public trust in the judiciary.

Seven justices currently serve on the North Carolina Supreme Court, which has fluctuated in size at various points throughout its history. To become a justice, a candidate must be an attorney who is no older than 71. North Carolina imposes a mandatory retirement age on justices, who must retire before the last day of the month in which they turn 72. Justices are chosen through elections in even-numbered years. These elections recently became partisan in 2018, which means that the party affiliation of the candidate appears on the ballot. In 2015, the legislature passed a law that would have replaced these competitive elections with retention elections. However, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling by a lower court that struck down this law as unconstitutional, leaving the current system in place.

If a vacancy arises in the middle of a justice’s term, the Governor of North Carolina will appoint a replacement. That justice must run in the first election that occurs at least 60 days after the vacancy arose to retain their seat. Each justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court serves an eight-year term, and the Chief Justice serves in that capacity for the full eight years. Voters determine the Chief Justice in an election, in contrast to the procedures used in most states. The North Carolina Constitution provides that the term of any justice begins on January 1 after they are elected or reelected.

Browse Opinions From the North Carolina Supreme Court

Recent Decisions From the North Carolina Supreme Court
State v. Tucker  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 113A96-4

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case of the State of North Carolina v. Russell William Tucker, the defendant argued that his conviction for first-degree murder and sentence of death should be overturned due to alleged discrimination in jury…

State v. Wilson  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 187A22

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of North Carolina, the defendant, Jahzion Wilson, was charged with first-degree murder under the felony-murder theory, with the underlying felony being attempted robbery with a…

State v. Woolard  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 208PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: In North Carolina, Melvin Woolard Jr. was arrested by Captain Rodney Sawyer for driving while impaired (DWI). Before his trial, Mr. Woolard filed a motion to suppress evidence seized during the arrest, arguing that the…

N.C. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Herring  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 227A22

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of North Carolina was asked to determine whether defendant Cassie Herring, who was injured in a car accident, qualifies for benefits under the underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage of her…

State v. Lancaster  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 240A22

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of North Carolina, the defendant, Darren O'Brien Lancaster, was charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of "going armed to the terror of the public." The charges stemmed…

State v. Beck  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 264A21

Justia Opinion Summary: In April 2017, Isaiah Scott Beck, Daniel Silva, and Javier Holloway planned to rob a drug dealer in Boone, North Carolina. They initially did not have a specific target in mind. However, through a series of text…

State v. Alvarez  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 278PA21

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of North Carolina heard a case regarding a traffic checkpoint where the defendant, Alvarez, was stopped, searched, and found in possession of illegal drugs. He moved to suppress the evidence, arguing…

Morris v. Rodeberg  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 296A22

Justia Opinion Summary: A minor, Freedom Morris, sought emergency treatment for appendicitis at Vidant Medical Center and was operated on by Dr. David Rodeberg. Despite complaining of severe pain after the surgery, Morris was discharged. He…

Wynn v. Frederick  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 314PA21

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Plaintiff, Paul Steven Wynn, had sued Rex Frederick, in his official capacity as a magistrate, and Great American Insurance Company for negligence. The Plaintiff claimed that Frederick was negligent in…

State v. Fritsche  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 344PA21

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of North Carolina was tasked with interpreting N.C.G.S. § 14-208.12A, which allows for the removal of a registered sex offender from the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry ten years…

D.V. Shah Corp. v. VroomBrands, LLC  
Date: December 15, 2023
Docket Number: 351A22

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of North Carolina was required to decide whether a trial court can refuse to hear oral testimony during a summary judgment hearing on the mistaken belief that the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure…

Town of Midland v. Harrell  
Date: October 20, 2023
Docket Number: 120A22

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals affirming the trial court's entry of summary judgment in favor of the Town of Midland ordering Defendants to pay the Town a total of $97,400 in civil…

State v. Pickens  
Date: October 20, 2023
Docket Number: 276A22

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court convicting Defendant, a former chorus teacher at a middle school, of first-degree rape and first-degree statutory sexual offense with a child, Ellen, a middle…

McKnight v. Wakefield Missionary Baptist Church, Inc
Date: October 20, 2023
Docket Number: 290A22
State v. Arthur
Date: October 20, 2023
Docket Number: 393PA21
The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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