State v. J.C.

Justice NEWBY dissenting.

The rule of law requires equal treatment to everyone similarly situated. Our appellate process assures uniform application of the law. Today the majority's decision deprives the parties to an expunction proceeding of a right to appeal, opening the door to inconsistent expungement decisions and depriving the trial bench of needed guidance. This case decides whether a party may appeal a trial court's final order from an ancillary expunction proceeding under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5. Contrary to the majority's conclusion, a straightforward application of N.C.G.S. § 7A-27,…