void-for-vagueness doctrine (North Carolina) · Go Syfert
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void-for-vagueness doctrine in North Carolina

8 North Carolina opinions name it 1 courts 1999–2026 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by North Carolina courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (8)

CaseFollowedCited
Kolender v. Lawsongreen
scotus · 1983 · cited in 4 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 1999–2026
2 sentences

2026Thus, “ ‘the void-for-vagueness doctrine requires that a penal statute define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.’ ” Beckles v. United States, 580 U.S. 256, 262 (2017) (quoting Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357 (1983)).

2018Void for Vagueness "As generally stated, the void-for-vagueness doctrine requires that a penal statute define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement." Kolender v. Lawson , 461 U.S. 352 , 357, 103 S.Ct. 1855 , 1858, 75 L.Ed.2d 903 , 909 (1983) (citations omitted).

34
Beckles v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 2017 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2026–2026
1 sentence

2026Thus, “ ‘the void-for-vagueness doctrine requires that a penal statute define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.’ ” Beckles v. United States, 580 U.S. 256, 262 (2017) (quoting Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357 (1983)).

11
McKeiver v. Pennsylvaniagreen
scotus · 1971 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2016–2016
2 sentences

2016See In re Burrus, 275 N.C. 517 , 532, 169 S.E.2d 879 , 888 (1969), aff'd sub nom., McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528 , 91 S.Ct. 1976 , 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971).

2016See In re Burrus, 275 N.C. 517 , 532, 169 S.E.2d 879 , 888 (1969), aff'd sub nom., McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528 , 91 S.Ct. 1976 , 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971).

11
In Re Burrusgreen
nc · 1969 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2016–2016
2 sentences

2016See In re Burrus, 275 N.C. 517 , 532, 169 S.E.2d 879 , 888 (1969), aff'd sub nom., McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528 , 91 S.Ct. 1976 , 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971).

2016See In re Burrus, 275 N.C. 517 , 532, 169 S.E.2d 879 , 888 (1969), aff'd sub nom., McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528 , 91 S.Ct. 1976 , 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971).

11
Skilling v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 2010 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014The void-for-vagueness doctrine embraces these requirements.” Skilling v. United States, 561 U.S. 358, 402 , 177 L.Ed. 2d 619, 656 (2010) (citation, quotation marks, and brackets omitted).

2014The void-for-vagueness doctrine embraces these requirements.” Skilling v. United States, 561 U.S. 358, 402 , 177 L.Ed. 2d 619, 656 (2010) (citation, quotation marks, and brackets omitted).

11
State v. Greengreen
nc · 1998 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
2 sentences

2014The North Carolina Supreme Court has “expressed an almost identical standard.” State v. Green, 348 N.C. 588, 597 , 502 S.E.2d 819, 824 (1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1111 , 142 L.Ed. 2d 783 (1999).

2014The North Carolina Supreme Court has “expressed an almost identical standard.” State v. Green, 348 N.C. 588, 597 , 502 S.E.2d 819, 824 (1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1111 , 142 L.Ed. 2d 783 (1999).

11
State v. Cumbergreen
nc · 1971 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2009–2009
2 sentences

2009"Appellate courts will not ordinarily pass upon a constitutional question unless it affirmatively appears that such question was raised and passed upon in the trial court." State v. Cumber, 280 N.C. 127, 131-32 , 185 S.E.2d 141, 144 (1971).

2009"Appellate courts will not ordinarily pass upon a constitutional question unless it affirmatively appears that such question was raised and passed upon in the trial court." State v. Cumber, 280 N.C. 127, 131-32 , 185 S.E.2d 141, 144 (1971).

11
Grayned v. City of Rockfordgreen
scotus · 1972 · cited in 1 North Carolina opinions naming this issue, 2005–2005
2 sentences

2005The void for vagueness test is whether the statute in question gives a “person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly.” Elam, 302 N.C. at 161-62 , 273 S.E.2d at 664 -65 (quoting Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 , 33 L.

2005The void for vagueness test is whether the statute in question gives a “person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly.” Elam, 302 N.C. at 161-62 , 273 S.E.2d at 664 -65 (quoting Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 , 33 L.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in North Carolina. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (4)

CaseCitedYears
State v. Mello green
ncctapp · 2009
1 sentence

2026“When evaluating whether a person of ordinary intelligence could determine what conduct is prohibited, ‘ “[o]nly a reasonable degree of certainty is necessary, mathematical precision is not required.” ’ ” Mello, 200 N.C.

12026–2026
Green v. North Carolina green
scotus · 1999
1 sentence

2014The North Carolina Supreme Court has “expressed an almost identical standard.” State v. Green, 348 N.C. 588, 597 , 502 S.E.2d 819, 824 (1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1111 , 142 L.Ed. 2d 783 (1999).

12014–2014
Sanford v. Gillis green
scotus · 1999
1 sentence

2014The North Carolina Supreme Court has “expressed an almost identical standard.” State v. Green, 348 N.C. 588, 597 , 502 S.E.2d 819, 824 (1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1111 , 142 L.Ed. 2d 783 (1999).

12014–2014
State v. Elam green
nc · 1981
2 sentences

2005The void for vagueness test is whether the statute in question gives a “person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly.” Elam, 302 N.C. at 161-62 , 273 S.E.2d at 664 -65 (quoting Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 , 33 L.

2005The void for vagueness test is whether the statute in question gives a “person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited, so that he may act accordingly.” Elam, 302 N.C. at 161-62 , 273 S.E.2d at 664 -65 (quoting Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 , 33 L.

12005–2005

Statutes the citing opinions construe

NC § N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202.1 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

OH 142 (1972–2026) PA 114 (1975–2026) CA 93 (1968–2026) WA 69 (1971–2025) CT 67 (1979–2025) MN 57 (1977–2017) TX 49 (1968–2024) ID 43 (1977–2025) CO 43 (1978–2024) MI 40 (1967–2026) NY 38 (1973–2025) FL 36 (1980–2019) AL 32 (1983–2018) IA 28 (1986–2025) MD 25 (1978–2020) NE 25 (1985–2024) MO 24 (1980–2022) ME 21 (1974–2024) NM 21 (1983–2024) ND 20 (1984–2025) WI 19 (1972–2024) NV 19 (1992–2024) VA 18 (1987–2024) UT 17 (1991–2018) VT 17 (1989–2020) KY 17 (1987–2026) MA 16 (1975–2025) AR 15 (1980–2026) GA 15 (1983–2020) NJ 15 (1968–2021) MS 13 (1976–2021) MT 12 (1985–2020) IL 11 (1978–2021) OK 11 (1994–2018) LA 9 (1986–2023) KS 9 (1989–2026) NC 8 (1999–2026) SC 8 (2007–2025) AK 7 (1969–2024) IN 7 (1992–2024) VI 6 (1995–2015) TN 6 (1996–2025) DC 6 (1975–2023) SD 5 (1983–2015) HI 5 (1981–2016) AZ 5 (1983–2017) RI 4 (1996–2015) OR 3 (1976–1980) WV 3 (1985–2022) DE 2 (1991–1998) GU 2 (2021–2024)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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