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
Taylor v. Bank of America, N.A  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 102A20-3

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a group of plaintiffs who claimed that the defendant, Bank of America, fraudulently denied them mortgage modifications under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and then foreclosed on their…

Est. of Graham v. Lambert  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 113A22

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Officer Ashton Lambert struck and killed Gregory Graham with his police cruiser while responding to a call. Graham's estate sued Lambert, the City of Fayetteville, and the Fayetteville Police Department,…

Soc'y for the Hist. Pres. of the Twenty-sixth N.C. Troops, Inc. v. City of Asheville  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 123PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: The case before the Supreme Court of North Carolina involved a dispute between The Society for the Historical Preservation of the Twentysixth North Carolina Troops, Inc. (plaintiff) and the City of Asheville (defendant).…

State v. Jordan  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 124PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: During an investigation of a stolen car, law enforcement officers followed a suspect into a nearby home where they discovered an illegal drug operation. One of the participants in the operation, the defendant, did not…

Washington v. Cline  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 148PA14-2

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the plaintiff, Frankie Delano Washington, was convicted of various serious felony offenses. During his trial, he asserted that his constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated. His argument was…

Kluttz-Ellison v. Noah's Playloft Preschool  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 173PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: In this North Carolina Supreme Court case, the plaintiff, Robin Kluttz-Ellison, was an employee at Noah’s Playloft Preschool. She filed workers’ compensation claims for two separate workplace accidents – one where she…

Upchurch v. Harp Builders, Inc  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 176PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of North Carolina dealt with the issue of whether a statute of limitations barred a defendant's counterclaim for negligence because it was filed one day after the three-year limitations…

In re A.H
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 194A23
Surgeon v. TKO Shelby, LLC  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 198A22

Justia Opinion Summary: This case revolves around a promotional flyer from a car dealership that led plaintiffs to believe they had won a major prize. Instead, they received a minor prize, leading them to file a class action lawsuit alleging…

State v. Walker  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 202PA22

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of North Carolina was tasked with reviewing the decision of the Court of Appeals related to a defendant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder…

Slattery v. Appy City, LLC  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 218A22

Justia Opinion Summary: This case was brought before the Supreme Court of North Carolina to determine whether a person who files a motion to claim exempt property after a judgment is entered makes a general appearance in the action and thereby…

N.C. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Lanier L. Grp., P.A
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 235PA21
N.C. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hebert  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 281A22

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of North Carolina reversed a decision by the Court of Appeals regarding the interpretation of a clause in the Financial Responsibility Act (FRA) about underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. The…

Terry v. Pub. Serv. Co. of N.C  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 28A23

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of North Carolina was asked to consider whether the Court of Appeals erred in reversing and remanding the trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment in favor of the defendant, a…

Beavers v. McMican  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Docket Number: 294A22

Justia Opinion Summary: In a case before the Supreme Court of North Carolina, the plaintiff, David Beavers, brought civil claims for alienation of affection and criminal conversation against his ex-wife’s alleged lover, John McMican. The main…

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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