As part of its bicentennial celebration, the Supreme Court of North Carolina held sessions of court in one of its original homes, the N.C. State Capitol Building. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and six associate justices heard oral arguments in a total of six cases over a two-day period, May 28 through 29. Members of the legal community and the general public attended the proceedings on both days, which were held in the Capitol’s historic Senate Chamber. On May 29, the oral arguments were streamed live online on the Judicial Branch Facebook page and on WRAL.com.  

“This was an exciting opportunity for the court to return to the State Capitol, one of its original homes. I want to thank members of the public for attending this historic session, whether in-person or online, and joining our Court to celebrate this important milestone anniversary,” said Chief Justice Cheri Beasley.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina has had five permanent homes over its 200-year history. The Court met at the State Capitol Building after its construction in 1840, occupying the Northeast suite of offices on the first floor until it moved to the present day Labor Building in 1888. In 1914, the Court moved to the current site of the Court of Appeals, then moved again in 1940 to its current home in the Law & Justice Building, which is located on Morgan Street, across from the State Capitol.