Court Opinion

ID: 9600100
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:24:22.235339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:50.378156
License: Public Domain

WYNN, Judge,
concurring.
Although I agree with the majority’s resolution of this matter, I write separately to elaborate on Defendant’s argument that he was prejudiced by the delay in the court’s written order, which was inconsistent with its in-court ruling granting Defendant’s motion to suppress.
Before trial, Defendant made a motion to suppress the cocaine, marijuana, and scales found by shrubbery near his home. After the trial court heard defense counsel’s and the State’s arguments, it granted the motion, though without making any findings or conclusions. Initially, in accordance with this ruling, the trial court refused to allow the State to enter the suppressed material into evidence. However, without making any ruling reversing its prior decision to suppress the evidence, the trial court, over defense counsel’s objection, allowed into evidence the previously suppressed material. Then, eighteen days after the conclusion of Defendant’s trial, the trial court entered an order effectively reversing its earlier ruling and denying Defendant’s motion to suppress.
North Carolina General Statute section 15A-977 regarding procedures for motions to suppress in superior court states that “[t]he judge must set forth in the record his findings of facts and conclusions of law.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-977(f) (2003). Our Supreme Court has determined, however, that these findings and conclusions need not be made concurrent with the ruling on the motion to suppress. State v. Horner, 310 N.C. 274, 279, 311 S.E.2d 281, 285 (1984) (“The statute does not require that the findings be made in writing at the *583time of the ruling. Effective appellate review is not thwarted by [a] subsequent order.”); State v. Fisher, 158 N.C. App. 133, 141, 580 S.E.2d 405, 412 (2003) (quoting with approval from Horner), aff'd per curiam, 358 N.C. 215, 593 S.E.2d 583-84 (2004). While entering findings of fact and conclusions of law at the time evidence is suppressed or admitted might facilitate better understanding between the court and litigants during trial, it is not required.
In State v. Doss, 279 N.C. 413 at 424, 183 S.E.2d 671 at 678, death sentence vacated 408 U.S. 939 (1972), this Court noted that “it is better practice for the court to make (findings of fact) at some stage during the trial, preferably at the time the (defendant’s inculpatory) statement is tendered and before it is admitted.” This admonition is equally applicable to findings of fact and conclusions of law respecting the admissibility of evidence which defendant contends has been illegally obtained.
State v. Richardson, 295 N.C. 309, 320, 245 S.E.2d 754, 761 (1978).
Where a written order setting forth findings of fact and conclusions of law on a motion to suppress is entered subsequent to the ruling, the defendant must have been prejudiced by the delay for error to exist. Horner, 310 N.C. at 279, 311 S.E.2d at 285 (to show error, defendant must have been prejudiced by later written order elaborating on in-court ruling on motion to suppress); Richardson, 295 N.C. at 319-20, 245 S.E.2d at 761-62 (must show prejudice from subsequent entry of findings); cf. State v. Williams, 34 N.C. App. 386, 388, 238 S.E.2d 195, 196 (1977) (where a trial court admitted testimony into evidence, defendant must show “prejudice which resulted from the trial court’s delay” in dictating its findings).
Our Supreme Court and this Court have found no error where a trial court entered its ruling on a suppression motion in open court and later entered a 'written order memorializing and elaborating on the earlier ruling. See, e.g., State v. Smith, 320 N.C. 404, 415, 358 S.E.2d 329, 335 (1987) (no error where a written order entered over six months after trial “is simply a revised written version of the verbal order entered in open court which denied defendant’s motion to suppress”); Horner, 310 N.C. at 279, 311 S.E.2d at 285 (no error where “the trial judge passed on each part of the motion to suppress in open court as it was argued” and “later reduced his ruling to writing[]”); Fisher, 158 N.C. App. at 141, 580 S.E.2d at 412-13 (no error where the trial court ruled on the motion to suppress in open court and later filed a written order setting forth findings and conclusions on the rul*584ing). I have not found in North Carolina an instance, such as the one before us, where the trial court’s subsequent written order on a motion to suppress is inconsistent with its in-court ruling on the motion. Nevertheless, there is no prejudicial error.
Defendant contends that he was prejudiced because he relied on the pre-trial ruling suppressing evidence in making substantive decisions about his case, including the contents of defense counsel’s opening statement and whether to accept a plea agreement. However a decision on a motion to suppress is a motion in limine (State v. Tate, 300 N.C. 180, 182, 265 S.E.2d 223, 225 (1980) (classifying motions to suppress as a type of motion in limine), and rulings on motions in limine are not final. See Heatherly v. Indus. Health Council, 130 N.C. App. 616, 619, 504 S.E.2d 102, 105 (1998) (“[T]he court’s ruling is not a final ruling on the admissibility of the evidence in question, but only interlocutory or preliminary in nature. Therefore, the court’s ruling on a motion in limine is subject to modification during the course of the trial.”) (citing State v. Swann III, 322 N.C. 666, 686, 370 S.E.2d 533, 545 (1988)). Because of the interlocutory or preliminary nature of the trial court’s ruling on Defendant’s motion in limine, Defendant cannot show prejudice by claiming that he changed his trial strategy based on that ruling.