Court Opinion

ID: 9625858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:53:21.145264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:56.677607
License: Public Domain

Judge Edmunds
concurring.
I concur with the majority’s conclusion that the failure of the trial court to follow the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1022 was not prejudicial to defendant in this case. However, despite this holding, I write to emphasize that judges should conscientiously follow the mandates of that statute when accepting a guilty plea. Although time is a precious commodity in the trial courts, it is not an undue burden to take the minutes necessary to conduct a complete colloquy with the defendant, who may be facing years of imprisonment. By so doing, the judge can ensure that the plea is properly executed.