State v. Wilkes

The law apportions original jurisdiction over criminal cases between the Superior Court and the justice of the peace in this fashion :

1. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction of all criminal actions in which the punishment may exceed a fine of fifty dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days. G.S. 7-63; S. v. Faulk, 154 N.C. 638, 70 S.E. 833; S. v. Wiseman, 131 N.C. 795, 42 S.E. 826; S. v. Addington, 121 N.C. 538, 27 S.E. 988; S. v. Deaton, 101 N.C. 728, 7 S.E. 895; S. v. Hollingsworth, 100 N.C. 535, 6 S.E. 417; S. v. Edney, 80 N.C. 360; S. v. Hampton, 77 N.C. 526.

2. The justice of the…