Supreme Court Slip Opinions


Filed: 22 May 2026
Mandate: 11 June 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions
Headnote Index: 22 May 2026

Case Title / Description
In re B.M.T., (32PA23-2 - Published) Author: Justice Allison Riggs (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's order concluding as a matter of law that respondent-father's consent was required for adoption to proceed.
In re J.C., (86A26 - Published) Author: Per Curiam
Review of recommendation for censure.
Shively v. ACI Learning Holdings, LLC, (10A26 - Published) Author: Per Curiam
Whether the Business Court erred in denying defendants' motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
State v. Nunnally, (216A25 - Published) Author: Justice Phil Berger Jr. (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred by determining defense counsel conceded defendant's guilt to the offense of possession of a firearm by a felon without the defendant's consent.
State v. Tadlock, (191PA25 - Published) Author: Justice Phil Berger Jr. (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in determining the State presented sufficient evidence to support two separate counts of assault by strangulation.
Rel. Ins., Inc. v. Pilot Risk Mgmt. Consulting, LLC, (68A25 - Published) Author: Justice Tamara Barringer
Whether the Business Court erred in granting partial summary judgment in favor of defendants, particularly where the effect of defendants' spoliation permeated throughout many of plaintiffs' claims.
Hill v. Ewing, (14A25 - Published) Author: Per Curiam (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals properly affirmed the trial court's order dismissing plaintiff's claims against defendant for aiding and abetting champerty and maintenance and slander of title.
Langley v. Autocraft, Inc., (304A24 - Published) Author: Justice Tamara Barringer
Whether the provision plaintiff seeks to enforce is void for indefiniteness.
State v. Rowdy, (300PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Allison Riggs (View COA Opinion)
Whether the trial court properly denied defendant's motion to suppress evidence from a Terry search and a warrantless search of defendant's automobile.
State v. Hague, (225A24 - Published) Author: Justice Allison Riggs (View COA Opinion)
Whether the trial court prejudicially erred by excluding evidence of the victim's prior felony convictions under Rule 404(b) where the defendant alleged self-defense.
Bradley Home v. N.C. Dep't of Health & Hum. Servs., (220PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Richard Dietz (View COA Opinion)
Whether Rule 6(e) of the Rules of Civil Procedure applies to the 60-day statutory time limitation to commence a contested case under the Administrative Procedure Act.
State v. Dobson, (190PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Anita Earls (View COA Opinion)
Whether police had probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle.
Costanzo v. Currituck County, (101PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Anita Earls (View COA Opinion)
Whether Currituck County could spend its occupancy tax revenues on public safety services.
State ex rel. N.C. Utils. Comm'n v. Carolina Indus. Grp. for Fair Util. Rates III, (139A24 - Published) Author: Justice Trey Allen
Whether the North Carolina Utilities Commission committed reversible error in approving general rate applications submitted by Duke Energy Progress, LLC and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC that included requests for performance-based regulation under N.C.G.S. 62-133.16.
State ex rel. N.C. Utils. Comm'n v. Carolina Indus. Grp. for Fair Util. Rates II, (75A24 - Published) Author: Justice Trey Allen
Whether the North Carolina Utilities Commission committed reversible error in approving general rate applications submitted by Duke Energy Progress, LLC and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC that included requests for performance-based regulation under N.C.G.S. 62-133.16.
State v. Mincey, (68A24 - Published) Author: Justice Allison Riggs (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding a defendant who pled guilty to habitual felon status had a right of appeal.
Surgeon v. TKO Shelby, LLC, (198A22-2 - Published) Author: Justice Richard Dietz
Whether the proposed class in this case satisfies the ascertainability requirement of class certification.
State v. Hicks, (136PA22-2 - Published) Author: Justice Anita Earls (View COA Opinion)
Whether the trial court's admission of cell-phone text messages constituted plain error.
State v. Robinson, (142A12 - Published) Author: Justice Trey Allen
Whether defendant still has an appeal of right to this Court under N.C.G.S. 7A-27(a)(1) after the Governor commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment without parole.
State v. Barden, (96A01-3 - Published) Author: Per Curiam
When the Governor commutes a defendant's death sentence to life imprisonment but no court has vacated, altered, or amended the judgment that includes a sentence of death, does initial appellate jurisdiction then rest with the Court of Appeals under N.C.G.S. 7A-27?

Filed: 2 April 2026
Mandate: 22 April 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions
Headnote Index: 2 April 2026

Case Title / Description
Hoke Cnty. Bd. of Educ. v. State, (425A21-3 - Published) Author: Justice Paul Newby
Whether the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction to enter its order dated 17 April 2023.

Filed: 20 March 2026
Mandate: 9 April 2026
Zip File of Published Opinions
Headnote Index: 20 March 2026

Case Title / Description
Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP v. Muntjan, (29A24 - Published) Author: Justice Tamara Barringer (View COA Opinion)
Whether defendant's emails satisfy the statute of frauds as a note or memorandum of defendant's oral guaranty.
Talley v. Earth Fare 2020, Inc., (174A25 - Published) Author: Per Curiam
Whether the Business Court erred in denying parties' cross motions for judgment notwithstanding verdict on plaintiff's claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violation of the Wage and Hour Act.
In re N.M.W., (159PA25 - Published) Author: Per Curiam (View COA Opinion)
Whether a trial court's permanency planning order included sufficient findings of fact to satisfy statutory criteria.
Wardson Constr., Inc. v. City of Raleigh, (115A25 - Published) Author: Justice Anita Earls
Whether the trial court abused its discretion by certifying a class of home builders seeking a refund of certain Capital Facilities Fees.
Jay v. Jay, (97A25 - Published) Author: Justice Allison Riggs (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's order issuing a domestic violence protective order.
Armistead v. County of Carteret, (66A25 - Published) Author: Justice Richard Dietz
Whether the proposed class members in a class action against a county are ascertainable and whether the proposed class satisfies the predominance and superiority criteria.
Byrd v. Avco Corp., (270PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Phil Berger Jr.
Whether the Court of Appeals erred by dismissing defendants' appeal from the trial court's interlocutory order denying defendants' motion to reconsider.
State v. Thomas, (262PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Paul Newby (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals correctly determined that the general prohibition on harsher resentencing in N.C.G.S. 15A-1335 did not apply to a case where the initial sentence had violated the mandatory sentencing framework.
Warren v. Cielo Ventures, Inc., (203PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Phil Berger Jr. (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred in reversing the trial court's order granting defendant's motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs' UDTPA claim based on a one-year contractual limitation period.
State v. Perry, (64PA24 - Published) Author: Justice Phil Berger Jr. (View COA Opinion)
Whether the Court of Appeals erred by reversing the trial court's denial of defendant's motion to dismiss the charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE LISTED OPINIONS, THE COURT CONSIDERED 168 OTHER MATTERS. THE OTHER MATTERS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, NOTICES OF APPEALS BASED UPON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS, PETITIONS FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW, PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI IN DEATH CASES, DEATH STAYS, PETITIONS FOR WRITS OF CERTIORARI IN OTHER CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES, PETITIONS FOR WRITS OF SUPERSEDEAS, MOTIONS FOR TEMPORARY STAYS, PETITIONS FOR WRITS OF MANDAMUS, PETITIONS FOR WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS, PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS, MOTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE RELIEF, AND DIRECT APPEALS FROM DECISIONS OF THE JUDICIAL STANDARDS COMMISSION AND THE UTILITIES COMMISSION. THE COURT ALSO CONSIDERS MOTIONS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME AND MOTIONS TO AMEND ON A DAILY BASIS. SUCH "ROUTINE" MOTIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PETITION LIST PUBLISHED BY THE COURT EACH MONTH.