Peaches v. Payne

EDMUNDS, Judge.

Contemnor William E. Moore, Jr., appeals the trial court’s finding of criminal contempt and order that he pay the costs of the underlying action as a sanction. We reverse.

The contemnor’s actions and resulting court rulings that are the subject of this appeal occurred during a personal injury trial that began 8 March 1999. The trial court initially instructed the attorneys for both parties to select the jury using the procedure approved in State v. Phillips, 300 N.C. 678, 268 S.E.2d 452 (1980) and warned them: “[I]f you don’t select that jury, in accordance with State Vs.…