Case Name: Lemuel Long v. Jesse Rhymes
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1812-01
Citations: 2 Mur. 122
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lemuel Long v. Jesse Rhymes.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 122–123

Head Matter:
Lemuel Long v. Jesse Rhymes.
From Halifax. -
By the law of this State, no one has a right to the guardianship of an infant, except as testamentary guardian, or as appointed, by the father by deed, or by the County or Superior Court. The appointment of a guardian by Court, is a subject of sound discretion to the Court making the appointment, and another Court will not rescind the appointment, without perceiving that injury is likely to result from it to the person or estate of the orphan.
The Plaintiff and Defendant applied to the County Court of Halifax, for the guardianship of the orphan children of the late Lunsford Long, dec. The Plaintiff was the brother of the deceased, and uncle, on the father’s side, to the children. No testimony was exhibited in the County or Superior Court, but the former committed the guardianship to the Defendant, from which the Plaintiff appealed ; and the question was, who was entitled to the guardianship.

Opinion:
Tayuoii, Chief-Justice,
delivered the opinion of the Court:
By the law of this State, no one has a right to the guardianship of an infant, except as testamentary guardian, or as appointed by the fattier by deed, or by a County or Superior Court. The act of 1762, regulates this subject in such a manner as to render unnecessary a reference to any prior rule. It is a subject of sound discretion with the Court making the appointment, which another will not annul without perceiving that injury is likely to result from it to the person or estate of the orphan. Neither of these parties can be said to have a right to the guardianship $ but as Rhymes has been appointed, and there is no imputation agjainst his character or conduct, nothing shewn to the Court inducing a belief that he may or will mismanage the estate, we must presume that the County Court has decided rightly. The appointment of Rhymes must therefore be confirmed..