(a)Scope of the Writ.(1)Review of the Judgments and Orders of Trial Tribunals.The writ of certiorari may be issued in appropriate circumstances by either appellate court to permit review of the judgments and orders of trial tribunals when the right to prosecute an appeal has been lost by failure to take timely action, or when no right of appeal from an interlocutory order exists, or for review pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-1422(c)(3) of an order of the trial court ruling on a motion for appropriate relief.
(2)Review of the Judgments and Orders of the Court of Appeals. The writ of certiorari may be issued by the Supreme Court in appropriate circumstances to permit review of the decisions and orders of the Court of Appeals when the right to prosecute an appeal of right or to petition for discretionary review has been lost by failure to take timely action, or for review of orders of the Court of Appeals when no right of appeal exists. (b)Petition for Writ-to Which Appellate Court Addressed. Application for the writ of certiorari shall be made by filing a petition therefor with the clerk of the court of the appellate division to which appeal of right might lie from a final judgment in the cause by the tribunal to which issuance of the writ is sought.(c)Petition for Writ-Filing and Service; Content. The petition shall be filed without unreasonable delay and shall be accompanied by proof of service upon all other parties. For cases which arise from the Industrial Commission, a copy of the petition shall be served on the Chair of the Industrial Commission. The petition shall contain a statement of the facts necessary to an understanding of the issues presented by the application; a statement of the reasons why the writ should issue; and certified copies of the judgment, order, or opinion or parts of the record which may be essential to an understanding of the matters set forth in the petition. The petition shall be verified by counsel or the petitioner. Upon receipt of the prescribed docket fee, the clerk will docket the petition.(d)Response; Determination by Court. Within ten days after service of the petition any party may file a response thereto with supporting affidavits or certified portions of the record not filed with the petition. Filing shall be accompanied by proof of service upon all other parties. The court for good cause shown may shorten the time for filing a response. Determination will be made on the basis of the petition, the response, any supporting items, and any briefs filed under Rule 28.1. Except as provided by Rule 28.1, no briefs or oral argument will be received or allowed unless ordered by the court upon its own initiative.(e)Petition for Writ in Post-conviction Matters-to Which Appellate Court Addressed. Petitions for writ of certiorari to review orders of the trial court denying motions for appropriate relief upon grounds listed in N.C.G.S. § 15A-1415(b) by persons who have been convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death shall be filed in the Supreme Court. In all other cases such petitions shall be filed in and determined by the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court will not entertain petitions for certiorari or petitions for further discretionary review in these cases. In the event the petitioner unreasonably delays in filing the petition or otherwise fails to comply with a rule of procedure, the petition shall be dismissed by the court. If the petition is without merit, it shall be denied by the court.(f)Petition for Writ in Post-conviction Matters-Death Penalty Cases. A petition for writ of certiorari to review orders of the trial court on motions for appropriate relief in death penalty cases shall be filed in the Supreme Court within sixty days after delivery of the transcript of the hearing on the motion for appropriate relief to the petitioning party. The responding party shall file its response within thirty days of service of the petition.287 N.C. 671; 304 N.C. 739; 312 N.C. 803; 322 N.C. 844; 368 N.C. 1067; 324 N.C. 613; 345 N.C. 765; 354 N.C. 609; 356 N.C. 701; 363 N.C. 901; 367 N.C. 954; 369 N.C. 763.Amended 8/26/2020; amended 1/14/2021; amended October 13, 2021, effective 1/1/2022; amended October 18, 2023, effective 11/20/2023.