Courts Weigh Out-of-State Convictions

RALEIGH — Among the core rights guaranteed by the Constitution is the right to trial by jury. The exact definition of this right has been the focus of much recent litigation. The most recent case to reach the N.C. Court of Appeals hinges on whether judges or juries must decide for sentencing purposes what North Carolina crimes defendants’ out-of-state convictions are similar to. Related NC Courts & Justice Articles: Court hears appeal on red-light cameras