Winter 2026 Cannabis Update
Not much has changed for cannabis law at the state level since my last post on the topic. I noted there that several defendants were seeking review before the North […]
Good for the Goose: Court of Appeals Sustains Pre-Singleton Rule in State v. Ramsey
A short-form murder indictment generally will not support a conviction for assault. That, at any rate, was the rule prior to State v. Singleton, 386 N.C. 183 (2024) (holding that […]
Case summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Jan. 7, 2026)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on January 7, 2026. Videos of the defendant sexually assaulting his unconscious wife were authenticated […]
News Roundup
Last Friday, Indonesia enacted its new penal code, replacing colonial-era laws that had governed the country for over a century. The legal reform implements a new national criminal code (KUHP) and a criminal procedures […]
New Edition of the North Carolina Sentencing Handbook Available
For the second day in a row, I’m pleased to announce a new publication co-authored by Belal. The latest edition of the North Carolina Sentencing Handbook is available for purchase here.
New Edition of Driver’s License Revocations, Restorations, and Limited Driving Privileges
I am excited to announce a new edition of Driver’s License Revocations, Restorations, and Limited Driving Privileges in North Carolina. First published in 2024 by my colleague Shea Denning, this […]
Pretrial Release and Rebuttable Presumptions
The last few years have brought about several changes to the laws surrounding pretrial release. Before many of these changes, there was a general rule that a defendant charged with […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Dec. 17, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on December 17, 2025. Evidence was sufficient to establish essential elements of felony possession of […]
News Roundup
Additional information came to light last week in the case against Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, during a key pretrial hearing on a […]
Law Enforcement Agency Policies Prohibiting Officers from Associating with Criminals
Many law enforcement agencies have policies prohibiting officers from associating with criminals, or with felons. From time to time, an officer is disciplined or terminated for violating such a policy. […]