Appropriate Relief Definition in Law
An application for adequate release (MAR) is a request made after judgment to correct errors that occurred before, during or after criminal or administrative proceedings, including errors related to the presentation of an admission of guilt. [1] Section 89 of Chapter 15A of the G.S. (G.S. 15A-1411 to G.S. 15A-1422) deals with GRRs. The procedures set out in Article 89 are detailed and would go beyond the scope of this Guide. The following discussion provides a brief overview of the reasons and implications for a successful MRA. When injustices occur, North Carolina law offers defendants various options to appeal the decision. The type of exemption a defendant can seek depends on the nature of the error or violation of the Constitution that occurred at the level of the court of first instance. Many defendants file applications for adequate relief after their conviction to remedy an erroneous conviction. “Affirmative relief Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/legal/affirmative%20relief. Retrieved September 29, 2022. G.S.
15A-1420(e) was added in 2012 and states that nothing in this section is intended to prevent the parties to a claim (i.e., the State and the respondent) from reaching an agreement on “any procedural or other aspect” of a request for reasonable relief. Apparently, this law would allow an MAR for any reason and at any time, provided that both parties agree. See General State v. Chevallier, 264 N.C. App. 204 (2019) (noting that the alleged errors in several convictions were not validly argued on appeal and therefore were not brought before the Court of Appeal, but this did not prevent the respondent from seeking appeals in another way, including an MAR by agreement). It is important that the defendant follow the strict procedural rules set forth in the laws of North Carolina. In most cases, the appropriate request for discharge must be made in writing.
The defendant has the right to file the complaint orally with the Public District Court within 10 days of conviction. The request for adequate discharge shall state the reasons for the request. The application must also indicate the type of remedy that the defendant is seeking. It is important that the appropriate request for discharge is submitted in good time. If you or a loved one has been convicted of a crime and you believe that the trial court made mistakes before, during or after your trial, you may have the right to seek redress for your conviction and even your criminal prosecution through an application for proper release. Contact Kurtz & Blum to arrange a consultation with a North Carolina request for an appropriate exemption attorney to discuss the details of your case and learn more about your rights and options. Call (919) 429-8532. Article 89 provides for two types of MRAs.
The first is governed by G.S. 15A-1414. Under this Act, a person convicted of a criminal offence may seek redress for any error that occurred before or during the trial within 10 days of the announcement of the judgment. Typically, a person would use this type of MRA to alert the trial judge to errors, who could correct them immediately, without the time and cost of an appeal. [2] To define a legal term, enter a word or phrase below. Under G.S. 15A-1420(d), the court may at any time “ex officio” ensure that a defendant is entitled to an appropriate remedy. (See section A above). The court must adequately notify the parties before acting under this Act. See G.S. 15A-1420(d).
In particular, this law does not have a corresponding authorization that would also allow the court to act ex officio at any time if the State were authorized to act (e.g. more than 10 days after the judgment and for the purpose of rendering judgment in a case in which the judgment was previously prosecuted). See G.S. 15A-1416(b). In common law and mixed civil common law jurisdictions, recourse law distinguishes between a remedy (e.g., a certain amount of monetary damages) and an appropriate remedy (e.g., injunction or enforcement). Another type of remedy available in these systems is the declaratory process, in which a court determines the parties` rights of action without awarding damages or ordering a fair remedy. The nature of the remedies applicable in certain cases depends on the nature of the unlawful act and its liability. [1] After the hearing, the judge decides on the appropriate request for release.
If necessary, the judge will make a statement of the facts. If a judge decides to grant an application for adequate legal protection, he or she may order one of the following types of release: An application for adequate release or MAR is an application made after a judgment in criminal proceedings that aims to correct any errors that have occurred in the course of the criminal proceedings, including errors related to the defendant`s presentation of an admission of guilt. An MRA must be in writing (unless it is filed orally, in public, before the arbitration judge and within 10 days of the judgment), state the reasons for the application, set out the requested appeal and be filed in a timely manner. See G.S. 15A-1420(a). The application must be submitted to the clerk of the district court where the defendant was charged and served on the district attorney. See G.S. 15A-1420(b1). The court clerk must include the case in the schedule and immediately bring it to the attention of the senior resident superior or district judge. See G.S. 15A-1413. The Chief Justice assigns the MRA to a trial judge for review and appropriate administrative action, which may include dismissing frivolous applications, appointing counsel, instructing the opposing party to file a response, or scheduling a hearing.
See G.S. 15A-1420. In accordance with Article 15A-1420(a)(4) of the Regulations of Management Communes, a fee may not be granted to the District Court without the signature of the District Prosecutor indicating that the District Prosecutor has had the opportunity to approve or oppose the application; However, the application may also be granted without the signature of the district attorney 10 working days after the service of the application. If a defendant is represented by a defense attorney in an MRA in a superior court, the state is required, to the extent permitted by law, to provide the complete records of law enforcement and law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case. See G.S. 15A-1415 (f). The defendant`s lawyer is also required to share his or her “complete records” with the defendant`s lawyer at the MAR if they are not the same lawyer. Id. If the MAR is not summarily rejected by the court for procedural or legal reasons (timely, frivolous, inappropriate form, issue already resolved in the previous MAR, the issue could have been raised in the previous MAR, but the defendant did not, etc.), the court may schedule the hearing of the case. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(1) (Parties are generally entitled to oral proceedings, unless the case is “unfounded”).
The question of whether the MAR is “well-founded” seems to mean that the allegations contained in the application, if true, would entitle the defendant to some remedy. See State v. Jackson, 220 N.C. App. 1 (2012). But if an MAR raises only legal issues (and not questions of actual fact and substance), the court must resolve the claim without a hearing. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(3); State v.
McHone, 348 N.C. 254 (1998). If the court takes evidence, the defendant has the right to waive his presence. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(4). The defendant does not have the right to be present if only questions of law are raised. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(3).
The movable party bears the burden of proof at the hearing, which means that he must prove the facts necessary to justify the remedy by a preponderance of the evidence. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(5); State vs Howard, 247 N.C. App. 193 (2016). The defendant must prove the existence of an injury under section 15A-1443 of the Regulations (the same standard used to prove the harm on appeal), otherwise the appeal must be dismissed. See G.S. 15A-1420(c)(6). At an MRA hearing, the rules of evidence apply. See G.S.
8C-1, Rule 101, Rule 1101; Howard, 247 N.C. App., p. 211. The judge must rule on the application and make an order, and if evidence has been adduced, he or she must draw factual conclusions. See G.S. 15A-1420(c). If the judge decides to grant the MAR, the appeal ordered may include: (i) a new procedure; (ii) the rejection of the indictment; (iii) the reparation sought by the State under article G.S. 15A-1416; (iv) referral to the North Carolina Innocence Commission; or (v) any other reasonable remedy.