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 […]
November 11, 2025
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 […]
October 23, 2025
New Bulletin on Confidential Informants in North Carolina: Discovery, Audio/Video Recordings, and Motions to Reveal Identity
Law enforcement officers regularly work with Confidential Informants (CIs) when investigating organized crime or building cases against individuals in leadership positions within criminal enterprises. CIs are most commonly involved in […]
August 28, 2025
Warrantless Review of Electronic Monitoring Data: Cases Outside North Carolina
In February, I blogged about State v. Thomas, 295 N.C. App. 564 (2024), and whether law enforcement can review ankle-monitoring data without a warrant. The defendant in Thomas was on […]
August 4, 2025
Purses, Fanny Packs, Backpacks, and Duffel Bags: The Impact of Arizona v. Gant on Searches of Hand Luggage Incident to Arrest
Law enforcement officers have long been authorized to search a person incident to the person’s arrest. But the precise scope of that authority has shifted over time. The most recent […]
July 14, 2025
May a Sheriff or a Deputy Enforce a Municipal Ordinance?
Municipal police have many duties, sometimes including enforcing municipal ordinances. Municipalities without their own police departments typically rely on the county sheriff to provide law enforcement services. The sheriff certainly […]
June 16, 2025
How Far May Law Enforcement Officers Go in Misleading Suspects During Interrogations?
Law enforcement officers may mislead suspects during questioning. For example, an officer may falsely tell a suspect that an accomplice has confessed, or may falsely state that incriminating physical evidence […]
June 4, 2025
A Guide to Vehicle Seizures: Drugs and Alcohol
Later this summer, we will be publishing a new Administration of Justice Bulletin, The Law of Vehicle Seizure and Forfeiture in North Carolina. It will cover the different circumstances in […]
May 7, 2025
The Use of Minors as Confidential Informants
Serving as a confidential informant can be dangerous, whether the informant is an adult or underage. As to minors working as informants, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recounts […]
April 28, 2025
May an Undercover Officer Engage in Sexual Activity with a Suspected Prostitute?
I read a news article some time ago about officers who investigate suspected prostitutes by going undercover and purchasing their services. The article noted that this practice is controversial. Some […]
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- Maggie Bailey
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