{
  "id": 2672989,
  "name": "In The Matter Of MARY LOU FERGUSON",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re Ferguson",
  "decision_date": "1981-02-17",
  "docket_number": "No. 8019DC659",
  "first_page": "681",
  "last_page": "684",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "50 N.C. App. 681"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
    "id": 14983,
    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "137 S.E. 431",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "year": 1927,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "193 N.C. 519",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        2217851
      ],
      "year": 1927,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/193/0519-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "186 S.E.2d 210",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1972,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "13 N.C. App. 468",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8554276
      ],
      "year": 1972,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/13/0468-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "262 U.S. 226",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "U.S.",
      "case_ids": [
        6139895
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1923,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/us/262/0226-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "284 U.S. 151",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "U.S.",
      "case_ids": [
        5717426
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1931,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/us/284/0151-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "19 N.C. 451",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        11276246
      ],
      "year": 1837,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "parenthetical": "the Court speaking through the great Chief Justice Ruffin"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/19/0451-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "11 S.E. 328",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "year": 1890,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "328"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "105 N.C. 246",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8652624
      ],
      "year": 1890,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "248"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/105/0246-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "282 N.C. 426",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8565795,
        8565766,
        8565736,
        8565816,
        8565850
      ],
      "year": 1972,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/282/0426-03",
        "/nc/282/0426-02",
        "/nc/282/0426-01",
        "/nc/282/0426-04",
        "/nc/282/0426-05"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "192 S.E.2d 33",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1972,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "16 N.C. App. 272",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8550199
      ],
      "year": 1972,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/16/0272-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "147 S.E.2d 922",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1966,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "923"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "267 N.C. 204",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8558839
      ],
      "year": 1966,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "207"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/267/0204-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 352,
    "char_count": 5335,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.734,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 2.3751263223761834e-07,
      "percentile": 0.7961927510059467
    },
    "sha256": "7c4338620b9f10b52d611af2b4368aac9c120f8c9a2168bcb76627bf4a8f0992",
    "simhash": "1:83e8ea26a3a3240e",
    "word_count": 908
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:39:05.008611+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judges WEBB and WHICHARD concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "In The Matter Of MARY LOU FERGUSON"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "MARTIN (Harry C.), Judge.\nAt the outset, we note that Ottie Lamb Ferguson, mother of the child involved, is a proper party to this proceeding. The order denying her motion for jury trial is interlocutory but does affect a substantial right within the meaning of N.C.G.S. 1-277(a) and is appealable. N.C. Const. art. I, \u00a7 25.\nThe question thus raised is whether the North Carolina constitutional requirement of trial by jury is applicable to a proceeding for termination of parental rights under Article 24B of Chapter 7 A of the General Statutes of North Carolina. We are of the opinion and hold that it does not apply.\nRule 38 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure provides:\n(a) Right preserved.\u2014The right of trial by jury as declared by the Constitution or statutes of North Carolina shall be preserved to the parties inviolate.\n(b) Demand.\u2014Any party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury ....\nN.C. Gen. Stat. 1A-1, Rule 38(a) and (b). Thus it appears that if the issues in this proceeding are triable by a jury as a matter of constitutional or statutory right, respondent was entitled to the granting of her motion for jury trial.\nThe statute involved does not grant a trial by jury in this proceeding. To the contrary, it requires the proceeding to be heard by the court without a jury.\nThe question remains, is there a constitutional right to a jury trial in this proceeding? We answer no. Chief Justice Parker, in discussing jury trial under section 19 (now section 25) of article I of the North Carolina Constitution said: \u201cUnder this constitutional provision, \u2018trial by jury is only guaranteed where the prerogative existed at common law or by statute at the time the Constitution was adopted.\u2019\u201d In re Wallace, 267 N.C. 204, 207, 147 S.E.2d 922, 923 (1966). Accord, In re Bonding Co., 16 N.C. App. 272, 192 S.E.2d 33, cert. denied, 282 N.C. 426 (1972). The Court in Railroad v. Parker, 105 N.C. 246, 248, 11 S.E. 328, 328(1890), held that it was settled by Rail Road Company v. Davis, 19 N.C. 451 (1837) (the Court speaking through the great Chief Justice Ruffin), that the Constitution guarantees the right to jury trial \u201cin controversies respecting property, only in cases where, under the common law, the demand that the facts should be so found could not have been refused.\u201d See 2 McIntosh, N.C. Practice and Procedure \u00a7\u00a7 1431-1433 (2d ed. 1956).\nAlthough counsel do not make a due process argument, we find that the United States Constitution does not require a jury trial as a partof due process. Insurance Co. v. Glidden Co., 284 U.S. 151, 76 L.Ed. 214 (1931); Wagner Co. v. Lyndon, 262 U.S. 226, 67 L.Ed. 961 (1923). Also, the seventh amendment of the United States Constitution, guaranteeing jury trials in federal courts, is not applicable to the state courts. Williams v. Williams, 13 N.C. App. 468, 186 S.E.2d 210 (1972).\nProceedings to terminate parental rights in children were unknown at the common law. Nor did they exist by statute at the time of the adoption of our constitution. The statute establishing these proceedings was first adopted by the legislature in 1969. The legislature in adopting this procedure established the policy of having the issues decided by the court without a jury. This was properly the prerogative of the legislature. Board of Education v. Forrest, 193 N.C. 519, 137 S.E. 431 (1927).\nThere was no right to jury trial at common law in proceedings to terminate parental rights, nor by statute at the time our constitution was adopted, and it is not now provided for by the statute. Therefore, we hold appellant\u2019s motion for a trial by jury was properly denied.\nAffirmed.\nJudges WEBB and WHICHARD concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "MARTIN (Harry C.), Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Gavin and Pugh, by W. Ed Gavin, for petitioner, Randolph County Department of Social Services.",
      "Ottway Burton for respondent appellant.",
      "Attorney General Edmisten, by Associate Attorney Lemuel W. Hinton and Assistant Attorney General Henry T. Rosser, for the State, amicus curiae."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "In The Matter Of MARY LOU FERGUSON\nNo. 8019DC659\n(Filed 17 February 1981)\n1. Appeal and Error \u00a7 6.9\u2014 denial of motion for jury trial \u2014 appealability\nAn interlocutory order denying a motion for jury trial in a proceeding to terminate parental rights affects a substantial right and is immediately appeal-able. G.S. l-277(a); Art. I, \u00a7 25 of the N. C. Constitution.\n2. Jury \u00a7 1; Parent and Child \u00a7 1\u2014 proceeding to terminate parental rights \u2014 no right to jury trial\nRespondent mother had no constitutional right to a jury trial in a proceeding to terminate her parental rights.\nAppeal by Ottie Lamb Ferguson, respondent, from Heafner, Judge. Order signed 21 February 1980 in District Court, RANDOLPH County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 4 February 1981.\nThis is a proceeding for the termination of parental rights with respect to the child, Mary Lou Ferguson. Ottie Lamb Ferguson, mother of the child, filed answer denying the material allegations of the petition and requested a jury trial. At the hearing in district court, attorney for Ottie Lamb Ferguson moved for a jury trial on all issues before the court. On this question, counsel raised the constitutionality of N.C.G.S. 7A-289.30 which requires the hearing to be by the district court sitting without a jury.\nFrom the order of the court denying the motion for jury trial, Ottie Lamb Ferguson appeals.\nGavin and Pugh, by W. Ed Gavin, for petitioner, Randolph County Department of Social Services.\nOttway Burton for respondent appellant.\nAttorney General Edmisten, by Associate Attorney Lemuel W. Hinton and Assistant Attorney General Henry T. Rosser, for the State, amicus curiae."
  },
  "file_name": "0681-01",
  "first_page_order": 707,
  "last_page_order": 710
}