EXHIBIT 5.1

          Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.
                                     Lawyers
                                 P. O. Box 2611
                          Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
                               Phone: 919-821-1220
                                Fax: 919-821-6800

                                 April 30, 2003

Cree, Inc.
4600 Silicon Drive
Durham, North Carolina 27703

     Re: Cree, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Cree, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the registration on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 750,000 shares of
common stock (the "Shares"), $0.00125 par value per share, for issuance under
the Company's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the "Plan").

     This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.

     We have examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as
amended (the "Articles"), the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws"), the minutes
of the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the
approval of the Plan and the authorization and the issuance of the Shares and
such other corporate documents, records, and matters of law as we have deemed
necessary for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents as originals,
the conforming to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified copies
or photocopies, and the authenticity of originals of such latter documents. We
have also received a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated of even
date herewith, relating to the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Plan.

     Based on such examination and such certificate, it is our opinion that the
Shares that are being registered pursuant to the Registration Statement may be
validly issued in accordance with the Articles and Bylaws, and when so issued
and duly delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Plan as
described in the Registration Statement, such shares will be validly issued,
fully paid, and non-assessable.

     This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of North Carolina, and we
express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. The opinion
expressed herein does not extend to compliance with federal and state securities
laws relating to the sale of the Shares.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. Such consent shall not be deemed to be an admission that
our firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act.



     Our opinion is as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake to advise you
of matters that might come to our attention subsequent to the date hereof which
may affect our legal opinion expressed herein.

                                          Sincerely yours,


                                          /s/ SMITH, ANDERSON, BLOUNT, DORSETT,
                                              MITCHELL & JERNIGAN, L.L.P.