News Roundup
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal regulation requiring, among other things, that those who make or sell “ghost guns” or “gun kits” must mark their products with […]
New Bulletin on Social Workers in Public Defender Offices and Issues Involving Mandatory Reporting
Increasingly, public defender offices are bringing social workers in-house. As part of a growing interest in holistic defense, these offices are relying on social workers to assist with the representation […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Supreme Court (Mar. 21, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on March 21, 2025. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
Returning Juveniles with Pending Delinquency Matters in Other States Under the Interstate Compact for Juveniles
The Interstate Compact for Juveniles (ICJ) is a binding compact that establishes the law that governs the interstate movement of juveniles who are involved in the juvenile justice system. One […]
GiveUNC: Help Support the SOG
Today is GiveUNC day, the university’s annual one-day fundraising event for alumni, faculty, staff, supporters, and fans of Carolina to contribute to UNC programs and causes that they find most […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (March 19, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on March 19, 2025. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
News Roundup
Hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants were summarily deported from the United States to a prison in El Salvador last weekend. Federal authorities relied on President Trump’s executive order invoking the Alien […]
When May a Trial Judge Reject a Plea Entered Pursuant to a Plea Agreement?
A trial judge has broad discretion regarding whether to accept a defendant’s guilty plea entered pursuant to a plea agreement in which the prosecutor has agreed to recommend a particular […]
Spring 2025 Cannabis Update
I have been covering developments around the legalization of hemp in North Carolina since 2018. Never did I suspect then that I would still be working on the topic all […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (Feb. 2025)
This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during February 2025. Cases of potential interest to state practitioners are summarized monthly. […]