State v. Smith

BRITT, Justice.

At the outset we note that this appeal should have been filed in the Court of Appeals since the minimum sentence imposed is less than life imprisonment. State v. Ferrell, 300 N.C. 157, 265 S.E. 2d 210 (1980). Even so, we treat the papers filed by defendant in this court as a motion to bypass the Court of Appeals, allow the motion, and consider the case on the merits. G.S. 7A-31.

Defendant contends first that the trial court erred in proceeding to try him without first having conducted a formal arraignment. This contention has no merit.

The conducting of arraignments is dictated…