In Re Timberlake, ___ N.C. App. ___, 792 S.E.2d 525 (Oct. 18, 2016)

The trial court lacked jurisdiction to reconsider the petitioner’s request to terminate sex offender registration where the State failed to oppose termination at the initial hearing and did not appeal the initial order. At the initial hearing the trial court granted the defendant’s motion to terminate registration. At that hearing, the assistant district attorney representing the State chose not to put on any evidence or argue in opposition to termination. At a rehearing on the matter, held after an assistant attorney general representing the North Carolina Division of Criminal Information wrote to the judge suggesting that the judge had incorrectly concluded that termination of registration complies with the Jacob Wetterling Act, the judge reversed course and denied petition. It was this amended order that was at issue on appeal. The court found that the letter submitted to the trial judge by the assistant attorney general did not vest the trial court with jurisdiction to review the termination order for errors of law.