Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 1971

In re Martin

In re Martin
Court of Appeals of North Carolina · Decided December 15, 1971 · Morris, Parker, Vaughn
13 N.C. App. 158; 185 S.E.2d 25; 1971 N.C. App. LEXIS 1178

In re Martin

Opinion of the Court

PARKER, Judge.

The order finding appellants guilty of direct contempt of court was rendered seven weeks after expiration of the session of court at which the matter was heard. Under the circumstances of this case and absent consent of the accused contemnors, the trial judge lacked any authority to enter such an order after expiration of the session. For that reason alone, and quite apart from all questions as to adequacy of the notice of the hearing to meet the requirements of G.S. 6-7 and of due process, the order must be vacated. It is therefore unnecessary for us to consider the other questions raised in appellants’ brief.

The order dated 10 June 1971 finding appellants in direct contempt of court is hereby

Vacated.

Judges Morris and Vaughn concur.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.