Absconding from Probation: Supreme Court Affirms Krider
In State v. Krider, __ N.C. App. __, 810 S.E.2d 828 (2018) (discussed here), a divided court of appeals vacated the defendant’s probation revocation based on absconding. Last week, the […]
Eleventh Circuit Weighs in on the Constitutional Parameters for Bail Systems
Interest in bail reform is heating up in North Carolina. The Chief Justice’s North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice recommended implementing evidence-based pretrial justice reform, and […]
News Roundup
As all North Carolinians know, Hurricane Florence brought torrential rain to the eastern part of the state, causing widespread flooding and other damage. At the time of this writing, Wilmington […]
The Old Bailey: A Typical Trial Docket in an Atypical Setting
Earlier this week, the students and I spent the afternoon at Central Criminal Court in London, formerly called the Old Bailey and located at the intersection of Old Bailey and […]
It’s a Bird, It’s a Scooter, It’s an Overnight Sensation . . . But Is It Legal?
(Author’s note: The last section of this post was added after its initial publication.) Electric scooters have recently appeared overnight in cities across North Carolina. The scooters, most of which […]
Self-defense, Intent to Kill and the Duty to Retreat
Consider the following scenario: Driver Dan is traveling down a dark county two-lane road in his sedan. Traffic is light but slow due to the cold weather and mist. Another […]
Security Searches at Courthouses
To enter most courthouses these days, a person must submit to a security search. Often, one must walk through a metal detectors and pass one’s personal items through an x-ray […]
News Roundup
This News Roundup was written on Wednesday prior to UNC’s closure on Thursday and Friday in anticipation of the arrival of hurricane Florence. Our thanks go out to all of […]
Magna Carta 800 Years and Counting
My criminal justice students and I visited the British Library this morning to view an original Magna Carta (several originals were created by hand). I had considered taking them to […]
An Update on Life with and without Parole for Young Defendants
In Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012), the Supreme Court held that a sentencing regime that makes life without parole mandatory for a murder committed by a defendant under […]