What is the doctrine of res judicata and how does it apply to appellate proceedings?

The doctrine of res judicata is a legal principle in North Carolina which bars the re-litigation of a case in which there has already been a final judgement. This means that any issues which have been resolved in a prior court decision should not be brought up again in any type of legal proceeding, including appellate proceedings. Res judicata applies to the appellate process in North Carolina because it completely bars the review of any matters which have already been settled in a prior proceeding. For example, say a defendant in a criminal case is found guilty of a crime and the case goes to appeal. If, in the appeal, the defendant attempts to argue any issue which was already decided in the original trial, the appellate court will likely bar such arguments due to res judicata. The doctrine also applies to other jurisdictions, such as when a civil case is appealed to a federal court. The doctrine of res judicata serves to prevent the same issues from being litigated over and over again, and to ensure finality in the judicial process. By recognizing that a prior judgement is binding, res judicata allows appellate courts to efficiently focus on any issues which have not already been decided.

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What is the doctrine of res judicata and how does it apply to appellate proceedings?

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