Court Opinion

ID: 9540632
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:18:30.091014+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:06.020996
License: Public Domain

HUNTER, Judge,
concurring.
I agree with the State that the trial court’s action in granting the motion for appropriate relief directly contradicts settled case law regarding Eighth Amendment challenges to habitual felon sentences and was therefore erroneous. See, e.g., State v. Todd, 313 N.C. 110, 117-19, 326 S.E.2d 249, 253-55 (1985); State v. McDonald, 165 N.C. App. 237, 241-42, 599 S.E.2d 50, 52-53, disc. review denied, 359 N.C. 195, 608 S.E.2d 60 (2004), cert. denied, 544 U.S. 988, 161 L. Ed. 2d 748 (2005); State v. Clifton, 158 N.C. App. 88, 95-96, 580 S.E.2d 40, 45-46, cert. denied, 357 N.C. 463, 586 S.E.2d 266 (2003); *269State v. Hensley, 156 N.C. App. 634, 638-39, 577 S.E.2d 417, 421, disc. review denied, 357 N.C. 167, 581 S.E.2d 64 (2003). The majority is correct, however, that the State has no statutory right of appeal to this Court from entry of the order granting the trial court’s motion for appropriate relief, and that certiorari is also unavailable. Thus, this Court is precluded from reviewing the merits of the State’s position. I note, however, that this issue may be subject to review by our Supreme Court pursuant to its constitutional authority. See N.C. Const, art. IV, § 12, cl. 1; State v. Allen, 359 N.C. 425, 429, 615 S.E.2d 256, 259 (2005) (citation omitted) (the Supreme Court may “ ‘exercise its general supervisory authority when necessary to promote the expeditious administration of justice’ ”).