North Carolina Court of Appeals judges brought the appellate courtroom directly to Carolina Law on Tuesday, hearing two cases that gave students a rare inside look at appellate advocacy in action. 

The Court considered State v. Smathers, a criminal law case from Buncombe County presenting a First Amendment challenge to North Carolina’s sex offender registration program. Attorneys debated whether the program’s online identifiers reporting requirements fail to intermediate scrutiny under the First Amendment. This case revealed the tension between public safety regulations and constitutional protections, giving students insight into how attorneys craft constitutional arguments in a highly contested area of law. 

In the second case, Coble v. Ballentine, the Court examined the legality of a civil no-contact order under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50C for “nonconsensual sexual conduct” or “stalking.” Attorneys debated whether the order constitutes an unconstitutional restriction on speech or whether it passes strict scrutiny under the First Amendment. Students watched how counsel balanced multiple legal arguments under active questioning from the bench. 

During both proceedings, Honorable John Arrowood ’82, Honorable Jefferson Griffin, and Honorable April C. Wood pressed the attorneys with pointed questions about legal standards, facts in the record, and preservation of error. This interactive process revealed the critical thinking and adaptability required in appellate practice, skills that come alive in the courtroom rather than within textbook pages. 

Following the oral arguments, the judges participated in a Q&A session where students asked questions about the appellate process, preparation for oral arguments, and the judges’ deliberation process. This rare opportunity allowed students to gain insights into aspects of appellate practice not visible during the formal proceedings. 

A reception followed, providing students an opportunity to continue conversations with the judges and further explore the nuances of appellate advocacy.