A Short Graphic Novel on How a Felony Sentence Is Served
I wrote a comic book about prison. Let me explain why.
State v. Brice: Pleading Rules for Habitual Offenses Are Not Jurisdictional
The court of appeals last year vacated Sandra Brice’s conviction for habitual misdemeanor larceny for stealing five packs of steaks valued at $70 from a Food Lion in Hickory. The […]
May a Magistrate Impose Conditions on a Defendant’s Conduct While in Pretrial Detention?
This question in the title of this post came up in a recent class. The specific context involved a domestic violence defendant who was in jail waiting for a judge […]
News Roundup
For the second time in a month, the leading criminal law news in our country is a staggeringly tragic mass shooting. The Las Vegas shooting in early October was the […]
New Gang Sentencing Enhancements
Two new sentencing enhancements related to gangs will come into effect for offenses committed on or after December 1, 2017.
DWI Day at the Court of Appeals
Yesterday was opinion day at the court of appeals. And while it wasn’t officially designated as DWI opinion day, several of yesterday’s opinions resolve significant and recurring issues in DWI […]
New Resource on Immigration Consequences of a Criminal Conviction
I am excited to announce the release of the 2017 edition of our manual, specific to North Carolina law and practice, on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction. We […]
Supreme Court of North Carolina: Officer Did Not Improperly Extend a Traffic Stop by Frisking a Driver and Ordering the Driver into a Patrol Car
In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Rodriguez v. United States, 575 U.S. __, 135 S. Ct. 1609 (2015). Rodriguez held that it was improper for an […]
News Roundup
On Tuesday, Sayfullo Saipov killed eight people and injured twelve others by driving a truck down a bike lane in Manhattan in an apparent terror attack. It has been reported […]
Evaluating the Sincerity of an Inmate’s Religious Beliefs
Inmates do not forfeit the right to practice their religious faith while they are incarcerated. But of course that right is not unlimited. Officers can impose certain restrictions when an […]