The federal government entered a partial shutdown this week. The shutdown has had sweeping effects, including disruptions to law enforcement and judicial proceedings. The Justice Department announced that while federal prosecutors and criminal investigations will continue, civil cases and some immigration court proceedings will be delayed. The shutdown also affects funding for federal law enforcement training and grants to local police departments. President Trump has demanded sweeping immigration and border security measures in exchange for signing a funding bill, while House Republicans remain divided over spending priorities. If the impasse continues, furloughs could hit FBI analysts, ATF inspections, and U.S. Marshals’ prisoner transport operations, potentially causing further delays in prosecutions and court schedules nationwide. Read on for more criminal law news.
New NC laws take effect October 1. Several laws took effect this week, including SL 2025-85, which requires sheriffs and judicial officials to cooperate more closely with federal immigration authorities. The law mandates that sheriffs and judicial officials attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone arrested and charged with certain offenses and hold individuals with ICE detainers for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release. Another measure, SL 2025-70, revises the state’s Public Safety Act, making it easier for domestic violence victims to obtain restraining orders across state lines, increasing penalties for fentanyl sales, and clarifying liability for religious organizations in sexual abuse cases. Additionally, the use of electronic-speed measuring systems to enforce school zone speed limits is now authorized.
NC Court revives challenge to Giglio law. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled this week that former Roxboro police officer Sean Patrick Leech can proceed with his lawsuit challenging the state’s 2021 Giglio law, which requires officers flagged for credibility issues to be listed in a statewide database. Leech resigned after receiving a Giglio letter from a district attorney citing “dishonesty” over his handling of a boxcutter in a rape case, an allegation later rejected by an internal review. His suit argues the law denies due process by offering no way to contest the substance of a Giglio letter. In June of 2024, a trial judge dismissed the case. The Court of Appeals found the judge improperly granted the motion to dismiss, and returned the case to the trial level. The Court also noted that the case may make its way to a three-judge panel in the Superior Court of Wake County, where any sufficiently valid facial constitutional challenges must be litigated pursuant to G.S. 1-267.1.
Cyberattack halts vehicle production. The automotive company Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been in digital lockdown since September 1, following a massive cyberattack that forced the automaker to halt global production. Initially expected to resume operations by September 24, the company has now confirmed operations will remain suspended until at least early October. The attack, reportedly linked to the same group that targeted British clothing retailer Marks & Spencer earlier this year, is costing JLR an estimated $6.8 million per day. JLR has three United Kingdom plants that normally produce 1,000 vehicles daily. JLR, in collaboration with the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, are working with law enforcement to investigate the cyberattack and hope to return to normal operations as soon as possible.
Police arrest child for reckless bicycling. WRAL reports a video posted to TikTok this week shows Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers arresting a child for riding his bicycle recklessly. In the footage, an officer explains to bystanders that the child was driving into traffic and posing a danger, stating, “It doesn’t matter if they’re a kid, it’s still illegal.” The child is seen being handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser, while asking the men present to call his mother. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) issued a statement confirming the arrest but noted that, due to juvenile privacy laws, only limited information could be released. CMPD emphasized that the action was taken to ensure the child’s safety and that similar incidents involving dangerous bicycle riding are common in the area. The investigation remains ongoing.
DNA pioneer Edward T. Blake dies at 80. Edward T. Blake, a forensic scientist who revolutionized criminal justice by introducing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to crime-scene DNA, died at his home in Sonoma, California. His death, from pancreatic cancer, was not initially widely reported. Blake’s work enabled DNA analysis from tiny or degraded samples, leading to the exoneration of more than 50 wrongfully convicted people, including several on death row. His first breakthrough came in 1986, when he used PCR to identify DNA in a case where older methods had failed. Two years later, his testing freed Gary Dotson, marking the first DNA-based exoneration. Blake later played a role in high-profile cases, including consulting during the O.J. Simpson trial. Known for his blunt style and unwavering commitment to scientific truth, Blake was hailed as “the Ted Williams” of forensic science by Innocence Project co-founder Peter Neufeld. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Siegel, two sons, and two grandchildren.
A bridge too far? Seattle police released dashcam footage showing a stolen Audi Q5 clearing a partially open drawbridge after the driver rammed through gate arms and accelerated across the open gap. Officers began pursuing the vehicle near 10th Avenue East but stopped short of following the jump. “It’s not the movies,” spokesperson Detective Brian Pritchard previously said. “We’d never do anything like that.” The suspect abandoned the damaged Audi and remains at large as of the most recent reporting. Police say the driver faces charges including auto theft and reckless endangerment once apprehended.