Fourth Circuit: Apartment Front Door Was Not Curtilage
In U.S. v. Johnson, 148 F.4th 287 (4th Cir. 2025) (summarized here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently rejected a Fourth Amendment challenge to a canine […]
An Update on Law Enforcement Use of Drones
I recently participated in a WFAE radio show about law enforcement use of drones, along with a captain from the Winston-Salem Police Department and an advocate from the ACLU. I […]
News Roundup
After 43 days, the government shutdown has ended. President Trump signed the spending bill late Wednesday night, funding the federal government through January 2026. Along with resuming funding for food […]
Eighth Edition of North Carolina Crimes Available
I’m pleased to share that the eighth edition of North Carolina Crimes: A Guidebook on the Elements of Crime is now available.
The Exclusionary Rule and its Discontents: State v. Rogers and the Good Faith Exception
Fourth Amendment rights are enforced primarily through the exclusionary rule, which provides that evidence derived from an unconstitutional search or seizure is generally inadmissible at trial. Under the good faith […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Nov. 5, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on November 5, 2025. Special thanks to my colleague Brittany Bromell for her contributions to […]
News Roundup
According to the Orange County (CA) District Attorney’s Office, a dozen mentally ill defendants facing criminal charges could be released if the county cannot find a facility to house them. […]
Updated Pattern Jury Instructions Available
Each year the School of Government publishes new and revised pattern jury instructions for civil, criminal, and motor vehicle negligence cases. Those instructions are created and compiled by the North […]
The Current State of Electric Bicycles and the Law
The popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) has surged across the country, from city streets to suburban trails. Their increased popularity has led to uncertainty and confusion in definition and regulation. […]
Iryna’s Law and Pretrial Release
Last month, the General Assembly passed Session Law 2025-93 (H 307), also known as Iryna’s Law. The legislation makes a number of changes to proceedings involving pretrial release; adds a new […]