Law enforcement officers in North Carolina must have good moral character to be certified, and may lose their certification if they lose their good moral character. The requirement of good moral character is neither unique to North Carolina nor exclusive to law enforcement officers. At the same time, it is a difficult standard to apply, as illustrated by a recent decision issued by the Supreme Court of North Carolina. This post provides context for that decision and explores its reasoning.
supreme court of north carolina

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Mar. 21, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on March 21, 2025. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Jan. 31, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on January 31, 2025. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Dec. 13, 2024)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on December 13, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Oct. 18, 2024)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on October 18, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Sept. 1, 2023)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on September 1, 2023. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Apr. 6, 2023)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on April 6, 2023. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Dec. 16, 2022)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on December 16, 2022. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Nov. 4, 2022)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on November 4, 2022. This summary will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.

Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (August 19, 2022)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on August 19, 2022. This summary will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free and searchable database of case summaries from 2008 to the present.