No Authority for Immediate Civil Judgments on Criminal Costs and Fines
The practice of ordering a civil judgment for costs and fines at the outset of a criminal case has run its course.
Domestic Violence Charts Available
I am happy to announce the release of a new resource on Domestic Violence Crimes and the 48-Hour Rule. This guide is intended primarily to assist magistrates and others in […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Oct. 1, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Court of Appeals of North Carolina released on October 1, 2025.
News Roundup
The federal government entered a partial shutdown this week. The shutdown has had sweeping effects, including disruptions to law enforcement and judicial proceedings. The Justice Department announced that while federal […]
New Legislation Authorizes Enforcement of School Zone Speed Limits Through Automated Cameras
This legislative session the General Assembly authorized cities and counties to use automated traffic cameras and speed sensors to enforce speed limits in school zones. Enforcement of traffic laws through […]
Three Updates to DWI Sentencing since 2018
We are putting the final touches on the new edition of the North Carolina Sentencing Handbook – publication date forthcoming! As part of revising and updating the DWI Sentencing portion, […]
Laws Taking Effect October 1
The North Carolina General Assembly has been quite busy this session. This year’s legislative updates span a range of topics within the world of criminal and motor vehicle law. Summaries […]
News Roundup
This week, the General Assembly passed H 307, Iryna’s Law. The bill follows the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte last month. The measure is now with Governor Stein. If […]
Revisiting Simeon v. Hardin: Part I, Pretrial Delay
Last year, I blogged about calendaring practices and whether it is appropriate for an ADA to unilaterally reset a matter in superior court after the court has approved a date […]
DSS Custody of a Juvenile in a Delinquency Case: When and Why It Cannot Be Combined with Secure Custody or YDC Commitment
The most recent Court of Appeals delinquency-related decision, In the Matter of D.H., ___ N.C.App. ___ (August 20, 2025), is one of a very few opinions that addresses a trial […]