The Johnston County Judicial community will host the Supreme Court of North Carolina as part of the Court’s bicentennial celebration. The Court will hold a Criminal session and a Civil Session in the Historic Courtroom in the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield on Friday, November 22nd. The first case will begin at 9:30 a.m. and following a 30-minute break, the second case will begin at 11:00 a.m.
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s highest court. It is made up of the Chief Justice, who also serves as the head of the Judicial Branch, and six associate justices.
“The trial judges of our district are honored and delighted that the Supreme Court of North Carolina will sit and hear cases in Johnston County in connection with the Court’s bicentennial celebration. Our citizens, including a number of our high school students, will enjoy a unique opportunity to witness the operation of our state’s highest court and to learn more about the judicial branch of our government. This Supreme Court session truly will be an historic event in our county’s legal history,” said Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Tom Lock.
The Supreme Court, as set forth in state law, can only meet in two other cities outside of Raleigh – Edenton and Morganton. At the Supreme Court’s request, the General Assembly has allowed the justices to convene in cities all over North Carolina for the Court’s 2018-2020 bicentennial celebration. In September and October of this year, the Court held sessions in Salisbury, Asheboro and Winston-Salem, and in May held traveling sessions in Halifax, Greenville and New Bern.
Due to limited seating, admissions to the sessions in Johnston County are by ticket only and tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Tickets for both sessions are available now at no charge at www.Eventbrite.com by searching for NC Supreme Court and/or Johnston County. To reserve your seat, you will need to include your full name and driver’s license or state ID number. All tickets will be picked up at will call upon check-in the day of the event.
The court sessions will be streamed live to an overflow room in the Johnston County Courthouse and to area schools. Additionally, both sessions of court will be streamed on Facebook live at Facebook.com/NCCourts.
NC Supreme Court Photo
