News Roundup
A bill was introduced at the General Assembly this week to prohibit certain pet leasing agreements. H226 would make it a class 2 misdemeanor to lease or sell a cat […]
Case Summaries – N.C. Court of Appeals (March 21, 2023)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinion from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on March 21, 2023. This summary will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (Feb. 2023)
This post summarizes published criminal and related decisions released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during February 2023. Cases that may be of interest to state practitioners are summarized […]
News Roundup
In January, actor Alec Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting a cinematographer on a film set in New Mexico. There is no suggestion that the shooting was […]
What is the Difference Between Voluntary and Involuntary Manslaughter?
It is sometimes said that the distinction between voluntary manslaughter, a Class D felony, and involuntary manslaughter, a Class F felony, is a matter of intent. Involuntary manslaughter is frequently […]
Consent Upon a Sure Foundation
Is lack of consent an element of burglary? This post arises from a conversation I had with a colleague who asserted that the homeowner’s consent could legitimize an entry that […]
Women in Policing
Think about the officers involved in some of the recent high-profile incidents involving police use of excessive force. The officers involved in George Floyd’s death were Derek Chauvin, Alexander Keung, […]
News Roundup
The most shocking story of the week involves four residents of South Carolina who travelled to Mexico, where two were killed and the other two abducted and eventually rescued. At […]
Case Summaries – N.C. Court of Appeals (March 7, 2023)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on March 7, 2023. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
Spring 2023 Update on the Constitutionality of Gun Laws
Last fall, I wrote a post about the litigation over the constitutionality of various firearms restrictions in the wake of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 […]