Revised Sex Offender Flow Chart (March 2026 Edition)
It’s been a while since I last posted an updated flow chart for sex offender registration and satellite-based monitoring (SBM). In the past I tried to cram the entire thing […]
Criminalizing Offensive Speech: The Fighting Words Exception to the First Amendment
In an earlier post, I discussed one category of unprotected speech that may be criminally punished consistent with the First Amendment, speech integral to criminal conduct. My former colleague Jonathan […]
Does Indictment Error Now Require a Showing of Prejudice?
The defendant in State v. Phillips, No. COA25-275 (N.C. Ct. App. Jan. 7, 2026), argued the trial court erred by denying his pretrial motion to dismiss based on a defective […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Mar. 4, 2026)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on March 4, 2026. Evidence was sufficient on trafficking in opioids by possession; no error […]
News Roundup
Justin “Drinks on Me” Timberlake is bringing it back this week after suing Sag Harbor Village to prevent the release of bodycam footage from his 2024 arrest for drunk driving, […]
How Should a Trial Court Respond to a Note from the Jury?
Individual jurors or juries through their chosen foreperson sometimes send notes to the trial court in criminal trials. The content of this kind of communication varies. Sometimes a note reveals […]
Contempt Authority and Procedure for Magistrates
There are two different kinds of contempt that judicial officials may impose: civil and criminal. Civil contempt is imposed when a person has not complied with a court order and […]
A Look at the North Carolina Hazing Law
Hazing has plagued college campuses for decades, and that unfortunately has not changed in recent years. A fraternity at the University of Iowa was recently suspended following the investigation of […]
New Federal Case About the Use of Force in Involuntary Commitments
The role of law enforcement officers in involuntary commitments is controversial. Some argue that individuals subject to involuntary commitment are dangerous by definition, so it makes sense to task officers […]
News Roundup
On Tuesday, President Trump delivered the State of the Union address. The address included mentions of immigration and fentanyl, with the President spotlighting the designation of Mexican drug cartels as […]