Category: Legal Law

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

Law enforcement officers in North Carolina must have good moral character to be certified, and…

One of the top stories this week is that of Decarlos Brown, who was charged…

During the pandemic, we got accustomed to doing certain court proceedings virtually—initially under authority of…

Several criminal statutes include the provision that a person who commits the offense prescribed is…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” pled guilty on Wednesday to selling Matthew Perry the…

In light of the recent Court of Appeals opinion State v. Moore, this post is…

A few months ago, I blogged about the legislative changes that took effect last year…

For the third week, federal forces continue to perform law enforcement duties in the District…

In February, I blogged about State v. Thomas, 295 N.C. App. 564 (2024), and whether…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Supreme Court released on…

A new school year is upon us and students across North Carolina are back in…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Erik Menendez was denied parole by a panel of California commissioners yesterday. He and his…

I am excited to share this year’s annual report from the North Carolina Judicial College.…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

President Trump deployed the D.C. National Guard, took control of the Metropolitan Police Department, and…

I’m happy to announce the availability of the Second Edition of Probation Violations in North…

My colleagues have been blogging about some of the changes to our criminal law wrought…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

The town of Wendell, NC, recently purchased two drones and associated equipment for $20,000 to…

The North Carolina Judicial College was founded in 2005 to expand the education and training…

The legislature enacted a raft of changes this summer to motor vehicle and criminal law.…

When a person is arrested, a law enforcement officer must take that person before a…

Law enforcement officers have long been authorized to search a person incident to the person’s…

If you thought it was only corner-cutting lawyers and tech-savvy college students that were relying…

As regular readers know, the General Assembly passed a slew of statutes affecting our criminal…

Several times a year, I teach different groups about criminal domestic violence laws in North…

In case you missed it, I wanted to remind folks that the Public Defense Education…

A few weeks ago, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed into law, S.L.…

The Alamo announced last week that it’s got Pee-wee’s stolen red bicycle, as foretold in…

Special thanks to Sloan Godbey, Summer Law Fellow at UNC SOG, for their significant contributions…

Back in February, the Court of Appeals decided State v. Nanes, COA24-487, ___ N.C. App.…

The law that governs which cases begin under juvenile jurisdiction changed three times between 2019…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

One of the top stories this week was the announcement by the Department of Justice…

My colleague Joe Hyde blogged last week about the Court of Appeals’ determination in State…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

Municipal police have many duties, sometimes including enforcing municipal ordinances. Municipalities without their own police…

Floods have gripped the nation. From Texas, to New Mexico, to here in central North…

Today’s post reviews the latest Structured Sentencing Statistical Report from the North Carolina Sentencing and…

Last month, the School of Government’s Criminal Justice Innovation Lab released a new report evaluating…

After State v. Singleton, 386 N.C. 183 (2024), an indictment is not rendered facially invalid…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

In State v. Aspiote, ___ N.C. App. ___ (May 21, 2025), the North Carolina Court…

After law enforcement arrests someone, they must take that person before a judicial official “without…

A new Administration of Justice Bulletin on Double Jeopardy in North Carolina is now available.…

Former Durham Bull Wander Franco was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the…

Character evidence is one of the most challenging areas of evidence law to navigate, as…

Dispositional orders in delinquency cases must contain “appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law.”…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Two immigration enforcement bills have passed at the General Assembly and are now on Governor Josh Stein’s…

In North Carolina, a person must be indicted by a grand jury or must waive…

If you’re working to protect vulnerable adults in your community, you know how important it…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

Law enforcement officers may mislead suspects during questioning. For example, an officer may falsely tell…

The Trump administration sued the state of New York on Thursday over a law that…

Under G.S. 15A-1380.5, a law that existed from late 1994 to late 1998, North Carolina…

In May, the North Carolina Statewide Court Appearance Project Committee released their Final Report with…

The defendant in State v. Meadows, No. COA24-149 (N.C. Ct. App. May 7, 2025), was…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Multiple acts of mass violence plagued the country this week. In Boulder, Colorado on Sunday,…

Criminal law practitioners may recall that in 2021 the General Assembly amended G.S. 15A-1215(a) to…

Later this summer, we will be publishing a new Administration of Justice Bulletin, The Law…

North Carolina General Statute 50B-3.1 provides that, under certain circumstances, a person who is subject…

If you’re a police officer, a correctional officer, a probation/parole officer, a juvenile court counselor,…

The top story this week is that Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton has been…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Supreme Court released on…

I recently had the opportunity to watch a webinar on the latest research about how…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced it is planning to drop investigations into nearly two…

Suppose you are a defender representing a client charged with Possession of Firearm by Felon.…

Derek was twenty years old when he suffered a stroke. He lost and then subsequently…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that drug overdose…

An immigration detainer is one of the key tools that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)…

A defendant who claims self-defense is generally permitted to offer evidence of the victim’s prior…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

The Alabama Governor signed legislation on Tuesday, establishing a new shark alert system that warns…

Post-release supervision has been mandatory for all felonies since 2011. But rarely if ever does…

There are six sentencing levels for Driving While Impaired (DWI) convictions. A defendant is only…

Serving as a confidential informant can be dangerous, whether the informant is an adult or…

The top national story this week is that the Supreme Court just heard oral argument…

The North Carolina Constitution historically mandated trial by jury in all criminal cases in superior…

I read a news article some time ago about officers who investigate suspected prostitutes by…

The top story this week is that country music star Jelly Roll has been recommended…

A common evidence question that arises is how to properly authenticate digital communications. We have…

Does the law regarding motor vehicle seizure when a person is charged with felony speeding…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Three chapters in the criminal law section of the Superior Court Judges’ Benchbook recently have been…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

A couple of weeks ago, the Supreme Court decided Bondi v. VanDerStok, 604 U.S. __…

A woman was babysitting a child near Great Bend, Kansas, when the child she was…

This post is about the recurring issue of the requirement for a court to make…

The defendant in State v. Bell, No. 86A02-2 (N.C. March 21, 2025), failed to object…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court held in a 5-1 opinion that the odor of…

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) recently published a report addressing “unprecedented challenges” facing…

It has long been held that the allowable unit of prosecution for an offense is within the discretion of…

Earlier last month, the Court of Appeals decided State v. Watlington, COA23-1106, ___ N.C. App.…

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal regulation requiring, among other things, that…

Increasingly, public defender offices are bringing social workers in-house. As part of a growing interest…

The Interstate Compact for Juveniles (ICJ) is a binding compact that establishes the law that…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released…

Today is GiveUNC day, the university’s annual one-day fundraising event for alumni, faculty, staff, supporters,…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants were summarily deported from the United States to a prison in…

A trial judge has broad discretion regarding whether to accept a defendant’s guilty plea entered…

I have been covering developments around the legalization of hemp in North Carolina since 2018.…

This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court…

Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), holds that the contents of a cell phone…

The news story that captured my attention this week is not exactly, or not entirely,…

Under G.S. 15A-1346(b), a sentencing court has the authority to order a probationary sentence to…

The defendant in State v. Greenfield, No. COA23-597 (N.C. Ct. App. Feb. 19, 2025), argued…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

A man is scheduled to be executed by firing squad this evening, which would be…

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the circumstances in which one judge may pick…

In previous posts, I’ve addressed the expedited scheduling requirements and opportunities for permanent release of…

The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits the use of…

We have covered the extensive post-conviction and appellate proceedings of Richard Glossip’s death sentence many…

Last September, the Court of Appeals decided State v. Thomas, No. COA23-210, __ N.C. App.…

Beginning with offenses committed on or after January 1, 2025, new laws are in effect…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Seven men are charged with stealing millions from the homes of six professional athletes across…

Questions sometimes arise in criminal cases about whether a new judge may pick up duties…

This post summarizes published criminal law cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals…

Some time ago, I received an email from a researcher asking whether a minor may…

After a two-week evidentiary hearing last February, and closing arguments delivered in August, Superior Court…

There are about 10,000 people on post-release supervision (PRS) in North Carolina. Some of them…

For most citizens in North Carolina magistrates are the “first face” of the judicial system.…

A new Administration of Justice Bulletin on Aggregation of Financial Crimes is now available. I…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Tuesday night, Pam Bondi was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Attorney General…

This post summarizes a criminal law decision published by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan.…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

In every case where a person is charged with felony speeding to elude arrest pursuant…

Former President Donald Trump was indicted on Monday for the fourth time. A Fulton County…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released…

One of the more common questions I receive about the transfer of a case from…

I’ve enjoyed quite a few books by John Grisham. I liked some of his early…

As a general rule, most defendants are entitled to have conditions of pretrial release set…

Yesterday, former President Trump turned himself in at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta to…

Every law student learns that state civil cases may be “removed” to federal court under…

I am saddened to share news of the tragic shooting that took place on the…

A few weeks ago, I wrote about one part of S.L. 2023-97 (S 91), which…

The lead story this week is the sentencing of former U.S. senator Bob Menendez on…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

A convicted murderer remains on the lam in the suburbs of Philadelphia following his escape…

The castle doctrine statute, G.S. 14-51.2, provides that it is presumptively reasonable for the lawful…

In preparation for some upcoming teaching, I’ve been brushing up on anticipatory search warrants. Such…

Does the law that makes personally identifiable arrest information a public record apply to the…

Presented with an appalling set of facts, the North Carolina Supreme Court unanimously upheld the…

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Spain, where I networked with academic colleagues,…

Last month, my colleague Jeanette Pitts blogged about the new Pretrial Integrity Act enacted under…

A recent court of appeals case, State v. Calderon, ___ N.C. App. ___ (2023), sets…

A convicted murderer who escaped from prison in Pennsylvania and remained on the loose for…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

This post summarizes published criminal and related decisions released by the Fourth Circuit Court of…

As one of his first acts as in office, President Trump issued sweeping pardons and…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

I recently completed a series of posts on issues surrounding confidential informants (“CI’s”), discovery, and…

On Monday, Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bail. A provision of the…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

Session Law 2023-114 includes many provisions that change the law governing delinquency cases. This is…

This post summarizes published criminal law cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals…

Several provisions of the 2023 Appropriations Act (H 259) ratified by the General Assembly last…

The opioid crisis seems to be getting worse every year. NCDHHS reports that in 2021,…

Law enforcement officers in Philadelphia arrested more than 50 people Tuesday night after a flash…

The School of Government has published a new resource on initial appearances and pretrial release.…

Law enforcement and the communities they serve want effective responses to crime and other problems.…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

After more than 25 years, an arrest has been made in the killing of the…

This morning, President Biden announced that he will commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 inmates…

In September 2023, then-Governor Roy Cooper appointed Allison Riggs to fill a vacancy on the…

The answer would seem to be obvious.  A person is guilty of forcible rape if…

Each year the School of Government publishes new and revised pattern jury instructions for civil,…

With a teaser like that, who could resist reading more? The 2025 edition of my…

Most of the news I’ve gathered this week is from right here in North Carolina,…

North Carolina is a bilateral conspiracy jurisdiction. Defining conspiracy as a combination of two or…

Last month, the Court of Appeals ruled that police coerced a suspect into agreeing to…

I am pleased to announce that the updated chapters in the Criminal Series of the…

I mentioned in a recent News Roundup that the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in…

This post summarizes a published Fourth Amendment decision released by the Fourth Circuit Court of…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released…

The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the search of Google users’ keyword history to identify suspects…

Normally, the Fourth Amendment requires that police obtain a search warrant before officers may search…

In the waning weeks of his four-year term, President Biden announced commutations of 37 of…

This post covers recent statutory changes related to the custodial interrogation of youth who are…

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released…