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NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443 (2026)

Existence and showing of prejudice

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) A defendant is prejudiced by errors relating to rights arising other than under the Constitution of the United States when there is a reasonable possibility that, had the error in question not been committed, a different result would have been reached at the trial out of which the appeal arises. The burden of showing such prejudice under this subsection is upon the defendant. Prejudice also exists in any instance in which it is deemed to exist as a matter of law or error is deemed reversible per se.

(b) A violation of the defendant's rights under the Constitution of the United States is prejudicial unless the appellate court finds that it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden is upon the State to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the error was harmless.

(c) A defendant is not prejudiced by the granting of relief which he has sought or by error resulting from his own conduct. (1977, c. 711, s. 1.)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,705 cases (201 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: State v. Malachi, 821 S.E.2d 407 (N.C. 2018).
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State v. Malachi, 821 S.E.2d 407 (N.C. 2018). · cites it 42× “' ") (quoting N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 (1978) ). "The harmless-error doctrine recognizes the principle that the central purpose of a criminal trial is to decide the factual question of the defendant's guilt or innocence" and "promotes public respect for the criminal process by…”
State v. Wilson, 367 S.E.2d 589 (N.C. 1988). · cites it 50× “§ 15A-1443, entitled "Existence and showing of prejudice," provides: (a) A defendant is prejudiced by errors relating to rights arising other than under the Constitution of the United States when there is a reasonable possibility that, had the error in question not been…”
State v. Williams, 565 S.E.2d 609 (N.C. 2002). · cites it 35× “From reading the transcript, we find that the questions and answers refer to the Elliot murder, not the Ashe murder.”
State v. Lawrence, 723 S.E.2d 326 (N.C. 2012). · cites it 19× “N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 (2009); N.C. R. App. P.”
State v. Artis, 384 S.E.2d 470 (N.C. 1989). · cites it 35× “Because defendant failed to object to this alleged error, this Court's review is guided by the "plain error" analysis, whereby the burden on defendant to show prejudice is even greater than that imposed by N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443. State v. Walker, 316 N.”
State v. Ray, 697 S.E.2d 319 (N.C. 2010). · cites it 30× “Further, the Court of Appeals concluded that defendant had demonstrated prejudice under N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a), entitling him to a new trial.”
State v. Morgan, 340 S.E.2d 84 (N.C. 1986). · cites it 24× “Therefore, the test for "plain error" places a much heavier burden upon the defendant than that imposed by N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 upon defendants who have preserved their rights by timely objection.”
State v. Huff, 381 S.E.2d 635 (N.C. 1989). · cites it 28× “N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443, entitled "Existence and showing of prejudice," consists of three subsections: subsection (c) deals with invited error, and because a non-waiveable right is at issue here, is not applicable; subsection (b) states the standard for reversal in review of…”
State v. Locklear, 681 S.E.2d 293 (N.C. 2009). · cites it 18× “N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (2007); State v. Lamb, 321 N.”
State v. Wilkerson, 683 S.E.2d 174 (N.C. 2009). · cites it 19× “” N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (2007). “The burden of showing .”
State v. Ramos, 678 S.E.2d 224 (N.C. 2009). · cites it 30× “" N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (2007). For example, in Rose , the Court of Appeals held that there could be no prejudice in convicting a defendant of felonious escape, an offense which includes the element of willfulness, when " nothing in the record in any way indicates that…”
State v. Fletcher, 807 S.E.2d 528 (N.C. 2017). · cites it 15× “2d at 329 (citing, inter alia , N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (1988), which is identical to the current statute).”
Show all 1,705 citing cases →
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(3)(2005) — 1 case
State v. Hope, 737 S.E.2d 108 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a) — 1070 cases
State v. Williams, 565 S.E.2d 609 (N.C. 2002). “From reading the transcript, we find that the questions and answers refer to the Elliot murder, not the Ashe murder.”
State v. Malachi, 821 S.E.2d 407 (N.C. 2018). “' ") (quoting N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 (1978) ). "The harmless-error doctrine recognizes the principle that the central purpose of a criminal trial is to decide the factual question of the defendant's guilt or innocence" and "promotes public respect for the criminal process by…”
State v. Ray, 697 S.E.2d 319 (N.C. 2010). “Further, the Court of Appeals concluded that defendant had demonstrated prejudice under N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a), entitling him to a new trial.”
State v. Ramos, 678 S.E.2d 224 (N.C. 2009). “" N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (2007). For example, in Rose , the Court of Appeals held that there could be no prejudice in convicting a defendant of felonious escape, an offense which includes the element of willfulness, when " nothing in the record in any way indicates that…”
State v. Fletcher, 807 S.E.2d 528 (N.C. 2017). “2d at 329 (citing, inter alia , N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443(a) (1988), which is identical to the current statute).”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(1988) — 2 cases
State v. Artis, 384 S.E.2d 470 (N.C. 1989). “Because defendant failed to object to this alleged error, this Court's review is guided by the "plain error" analysis, whereby the burden on defendant to show prejudice is even greater than that imposed by N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443. State v. Walker, 316 N.”
State v. Wilds, 515 S.E.2d 466 (N.C. Ct. App. 1999).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(1997) — 1 case
State v. Waddell, 504 S.E.2d 84 (N.C. Ct. App. 1998).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(1999) — 4 cases
State v. Grover, 543 S.E.2d 179 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001).
State v. Lytch, 544 S.E.2d 570 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001).
State v. Ronzio, 671 S.E.2d 379 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Douthit, 647 S.E.2d 688 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2001) — 2 cases
State v. Locklear, 583 S.E.2d 726 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003).
State v. Holmes, 565 S.E.2d 154 (2002).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2003) — 2 cases
State v. Frederick, 603 S.E.2d 168 (N.C. Ct. App. 2004).
State v. Marcus, 609 S.E.2d 498 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2005) — 2 cases
State v. Wright-stover, 664 S.E.2d 78 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008).
State v. Lieberman, 687 S.E.2d 318 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2007) — 1 case
State v. Walker, 775 S.E.2d 694 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2009) — 1 case
State v. Eaton, 707 S.E.2d 642 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2011) — 1 case
State v. Chisholm, 737 S.E.2d 818 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2015) — 2 cases
State v. Huey, 804 S.E.2d 464 (N.C. 2017).
State v. Madonna, 806 S.E.2d 356 (N.C. Ct. App. 2017).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(2017) — 1 case
State v. Pierre (N.C. Ct. App. 2019).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(a)(b)(c) — 2 cases
State v. Sellars, 361 N.C. 178 (N.C. 2006).
State v. Sellars, 641 S.E.2d 313 (N.C. 2006).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(b) — 431 cases
State v. Wilson, 367 S.E.2d 589 (N.C. 1988). “§ 15A-1443, entitled "Existence and showing of prejudice," provides: (a) A defendant is prejudiced by errors relating to rights arising other than under the Constitution of the United States when there is a reasonable possibility that, had the error in question not been…”
State v. Lawrence, 723 S.E.2d 326 (N.C. 2012). “N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 (2009); N.C. R. App. P.”
State v. Ortiz-Zape, 743 S.E.2d 156 (N.C. 2013).
State v. Malachi, 821 S.E.2d 407 (N.C. 2018). “' ") (quoting N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443 (1978) ). "The harmless-error doctrine recognizes the principle that the central purpose of a criminal trial is to decide the factual question of the defendant's guilt or innocence" and "promotes public respect for the criminal process by…”
State v. Benson, 372 S.E.2d 517 (N.C. 1988).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(b)(1988) — 1 case
State v. Artis, 384 S.E.2d 470 (N.C. 1989). “Because defendant failed to object to this alleged error, this Court's review is guided by the "plain error" analysis, whereby the burden on defendant to show prejudice is even greater than that imposed by N.C.G.S. § 15A-1443. State v. Walker, 316 N.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(b)(2023) — 1 case
State v. Hines (N.C. Ct. App. 2025).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(c) — 148 cases
State v. Duke, 623 S.E.2d 11 (N.C. 2005).
State v. Greene, 376 S.E.2d 430 (N.C. 1989).
State v. Wilson, 681 S.E.2d 325 (N.C. 2009).
State v. McCollum, 433 S.E.2d 144 (N.C. 1993).
State v. Cummings, 648 S.E.2d 788 (N.C. 2007).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1443(c)(2007) — 1 case
State v. Grosholz, 687 S.E.2d 540 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009).
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