State v. . Rooks

176 S.E. 752, 207 N.C. 275, 1934 N.C. LEXIS 443

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: October 31, 1934
• Status: Published

Opinion

Stacv, C. J.,

after stating the case: The appeal must be dismissed as unavailing to the defendant in the present state of the record. S. v. Polk, 91 N. C., 652.

It is provided by C. S., 4650, that the defendant shall have the right to appeal in case of “conviction in the Superior Court for any criminal offense,” etc. Appeals in criminal cases are controlled by the statutes on the subject; and it was said in S. v. Webb, 155 N. C., 426, 70 S. E., 1064, “that an ordinary statutory appeal will not be entertained except from a judgment on conviction, or some judgment in its nature final.” S. v. Lyon, 93 N. C., 575; S. v. Hinson, 82 N. C., 540; S. v. Jefferson, 66 N. C., 309; S. v. Bailey, 65 N. C., 426; William Biggs, ex parte, 64 N. C., 202.

We may add, however, that it is not after the practice of the courts, ex mero- motu, to declare acts of the General Assembly void or unconstitutional. It is only in the exercise of judicial power, properly invoked, that such action is taken. Blackmore v. Duplin County, 201 N. C., 243, 159 S. E., 354; McPherson v. Motor Sales Corp., Ib., 303, 160 S. E., 283; Poore v. Poore, Ib., 791, 161 S. E., 532; Wood v. Braswell, 192 N. C., 588, 135 S. E., 529; Person v. Doughton, 186 N. C., 723, 120 S. E., 481.

The order of remand, therefore, should be stricken out.

Appeal dismissed.