State Ex Rel. Thornburg v. House and Lot

EXUM, Chief Justice.

This is a forfeiture proceeding brought pursuant to Chapter 75D of our General Statutes — this State’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act). There is no question regarding the State’s right to a RICO forfeiture of the subject property. The issue which divides the State and the appealing intervening defendant, The New Bern-Craven County Board of Education (Board), concerns how the proceeds of a sale of the forfeited property shall be distributed in light of Section 7 of Article IX of the North Carolina Constitution, which provides:

Sec. 7. County…