Court Opinion

ID: 9540682
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:18:51.445637+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:10.834837
License: Public Domain

JACKSON, Judge
concurs in a separate opinion.
I concur with the majority’s decision that the trial court committed reversible error in proceeding to try defendant on the same day as he was arraigned. However, for the reasons stated below, I believe it was unnecessary for the majority to discuss the applicability of North Carolina General Statutes, section 15A-941(d) to the instant case.
In the instant case, neither defendant nor the State raised the issue of whether the State was required to submit a bill of indictment charging defendant with the various offenses. Neither party addresses section 15A-941(d) in their briefs, and they do not present any argument indicating that defendant was not entitled to an arraignment in superior court. There is no dispute that defendant was not indicted for the offenses, thus there was no indictment from which the twenty-one day tolling period would begin in which defendant *239could file a written request for an arraignment. Both parties agree that defendant was entitled to an arraignment, he received that arraignment, and his trial began on the same day. The dispute between defendant and the State concerns whether or not defendant waived his statutory right not to be tried in the same week in which he was arraigned, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 15A-943(b). It is my opinion that we may fully address defendant’s appeal, and reach the same conclusion, without addressing the applicability, or inapplicability, of section 15A-941(d) to defendant’s case.
Accordingly, I concur that defendant is entitled to a new trial.