State v. Squires, s. 68SC75

Decision Date24 April 1968
Docket Number68SC76,Nos. 68SC75,s. 68SC75
Citation160 S.E.2d 550,1 N.C.App. 199
PartiesSTATE of North Carolina v. Joe SQUIRES and Carl Johnson.
CourtNorth Carolina Court of Appeals

T. W. Bruton, Atty. Gen., by Millard R. Rich, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Guy E. Possinger, Charlotte, for defendant appellant Joe Squires.

Barry M. Storick, Charlotte, for defendant appellant Carl Johnson.

MALLARD, Chief Judge.

Each of the defendants was found by the trial judge to be indigent, and orders were entered appointing counsel to perfect their appeals, and providing that Mecklenburg County should pay the costs of the transcripts of the trial and the costs of printing of the record on appeal and the briefs.

The appeals of the defendants were docketed in the Court of Appeals as two cases. The testimony, the charge, and the argument of the Solicitor are included in the transcript filed in this Court; also the testimony is narrated in the record on appeal, and the argument of the Solicitor as well as the charge of the Court are again set forth in the printed record on appeal. Thus we have before us the testimony four times, the argument of the Solicitor four times, and the charge of the Court four times. Obviously, such repetition is unnecessary for the purpose of aiding this Court in a review of the assignments of error. Obviously, also, such repetition creates an unnecessary expense for Mecklenburg County. The fact of indigency should not be considered by a defendant as a license to be a spendthrift with the county's money.

Aside from needing only one record on appeal instead of two for co-defendants, we note that the assignments of error made by the defendants are the same and that they relate only to the argument of the Solicitor. Yet, we have the testimony of the witnesses and the charge of the Court each reproduced before us four times.

The records on appeal in each of the defendants' appeals were filed too late to comply with Rule 5 of the Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals of North Carolina. If, as the record on appeal seems to indicate, the defendants were sentenced on 16 November 1967, the record on appeal should have been docketed in the Court of Appeals no later than 16 February 1968. They were both docketed in this Court on 27 February 1968. (For an explanation of Rule 5, see the opinion in Smith v. Starnes, 160 S.E.2d 547, which is being filed by this Court the same date as this opinion.)

Although the appeals were subject to dismissal for...

To continue reading

Request your trial
7 cases
  • State v. Brown, No. 7018SC148
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • February 25, 1970
    ...443, 170 S.E.2d 90; State v. Stewart, 4 N.C.App. 249, 166 S.E.2d 458; State v. Farrell, 3 N.C.App. 196, 164 S.E.2d 388; State v. Squires, 1 N.C.App. 199, 160 S.E.2d 550. Nevertheless, in order to determine that justice is done, we have carefully reviewed the record on appeal with respect to......
  • State v. Sherron, 6914SC72
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • April 30, 1969
    ...mero motu. Rules 5 and 48, Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals; State v. Farrell, 3 N.C.App. 196, 164 S.E.2d 388; State v. Squires, 1 N.C.App. 199, 160 S.E.2d 550. Nevertheless, in an effort to determine that justice is done, we have reviewed the record with respect to the assignments......
  • State v. Simpson, 7226SC329
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • May 24, 1972
    ...to dismissal. Rule 5, Rules of Practice in the Court of Appeals. State v. Bennett, 13 N.C.App. 251, 185 S.E.2d 7; State v. Squires, 1 N.C.App. 199, 160 S.E.2d 550. Nevertheless, we have carefully examined the record, particularly with reference to the questions raised in appellant's brief, ......
  • Keyes v. Hardin Oil Co., 7218DC174
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • February 23, 1972
    ...S.E.2d 285; State v. Burgess, 11 N.C.App. 430, 181 S.E.2d 120; Williford v. Williford, 10 N.C.App. 541, 179 S.E.2d 118; State v. Squires, 1 N.C.App. 199, 160 S.E.2d 550. The record does contain an order, signed by District Judge Alexander, extending the time 'within which to prepare the sta......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT