2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 1 - Definitions.

Chapter 1.

Civil Procedure.

SUBCHAPTER I. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.

Article 1.

Definitions.

§ 1‑1.� Remedies.

Remedies in the courts of justice are divided into �

(1)������ Actions.

(2)������ Special proceedings. (C.C.P., s. 1; Code, s. 125; Rev., s. 346; C.S., s. 391.)

 

§ 1‑2.� Actions.

An action is an ordinary proceeding in a court of justice, by which a party prosecutes another party for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment or prevention of a public offense. (C.C.P., s. 2; 1868‑9, c. 277, s. 2; Code, s. 126; Rev., s. 347; C.S., s. 392.)

 

§ 1‑3.� Special proceedings.

Every other remedy is a special proceeding. (C.C.P., s. 3; Code, s. 127; Rev., s. 348; C.S., s. 393.)

 

§ 1‑4.� Kinds of actions.

Actions are of two kinds �

(1)������ Civil.

(2)������ Criminal. (C.C.P., s. 4; Code, s. 128; Rev., s. 349; C.S., s. 394.)

 

§ 1‑5.� Criminal action.

A criminal action is �

(1)������ An action prosecuted by the State as a party, against a person charged with a public offense, for the punishment thereof.

(2)������ An action prosecuted by the State, at the instance of an individual, to prevent an apprehended crime against his person or property. (Const., art. 4, s. 1; C.C.P., s. 5; Code, s. 129; Rev., s. 350; C.S., s. 395.)

 

§ 1‑6.� Civil action.

Every other is a civil action. (C.C.P., s. 6; Code, s. 130; Rev., s. 351; C.S., s. 396.)

 

§ 1‑7.� When court means clerk.

In the following sections which confer jurisdiction or power, or impose duties, where the words "superior court," or "court," in reference to a superior court are used, they mean the clerk of the superior court, unless otherwise specially stated, or unless reference is made to a regular session of the court, in which cases the judge of the court alone is meant. (C.C.P., s. 9; Code, s. 132; Rev., s. 352; C.S., s. 397; 1971, c. 381, s. 12.)