State v. Johnson

210 S.E.2d 260 (1974)

286 N.C. 331

STATE of North Carolina v. James E. JOHNSON, Jr., et al.

No. 87.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

December 30, 1974.

Robert Morgan, Atty. Gen., T. Buie Costen, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Thomas M. Ringer, Jr., Associate Atty. Gen., Raleigh, for the State.

Marshall, Williams, Gorham & Brawley by Alan A. Marshall and Lonnie B. Williams, Wilmington, for respondent appellants.

PER CURIAM:

Justice Dan K. Moore, having been the Governor of North Carolina at the time the State's decision to condemn respondents' property was made and this proceeding instituted, did not sit when the two prior appeals in this case were heard. See State v. Johnson, 278 N.C. 126, 179 S.E.2d 371 (1971); State v. Johnson, 282 N.C. 1, 191 S.E.2d 641 (1972). He does not sit in this appeal. The remaining six justices being equally divided in opinion as to whether prejudicial error was committed in the trial below, the judgment of the Superior Court stands affirmed in accordance with the usual practice in such cases and decides this case without becoming a precedent. Parrish v. Publishing Co., 271 N.C. 711, 157 S.E.2d 334 (1967); Burke v. R. R., 257 N.C. 683, 127 S.E.2d 281 (1962); State v. Smith, *261 243 N.C. 172, 90 S.E.2d 328 (1955); James v. Rogers, 231 N.C. 668, 58 S.E.2d 640 (1950); Parsons v. Board of Education, 200 N.C. 88, 156 S.E. 243 (1930); Hillsboro v. Bank, 191 N.C. 828, 132 S.E. 657 (1926); McCarter v. Atlanta & C.A.L. Railway Company, 187 N.C. 863, 123 S.E. 88 (1924); 1 N.C. Index 2d, Appeal and Error §§ 46, 64 (1967).

Affirmed.