Authenticating Photographs Obtained from Social Media Platforms
In my last post, I wrote about how a party might authenticate a Facebook direct message or other text-based electronic communication. That post focused on how the proponent of the […]
News Roundup
The state legislature continues to be in full swing. While much talk here on campus centers on a bill that would eliminate academic tenure, the criminal justice community is likely […]
How Does the Confrontation Clause Impact the Introduction of a Defendant’s Medical Records in a DWI Trial?
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the foundational requirements for introducing a defendant’s medical records in a DWI trial. Soon after I posted, a reader asked whether introducing those records […]
Transitions in Defender Work at the School of Government
Dear Friends, I am writing to let you know of some changes in the work we do at the School of Government for defenders and others who work in the […]
Determining Disposition Level in Delinquency Cases
Determination of the correct disposition level available in a delinquency case requires a four-step process. Identify the offense for which disposition is being entered (hereinafter referred to as the “disposition […]
News Roundup
WRAL reports here on renovations at the State Crime Laboratory. The renovations, supported by a $5 million appropriation, include “a new design for the Drug, Chemistry and Toxicology wing” that […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Apr. 18, 2023)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on April 18, 2023. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
The Citation Project – Final Report
Are you thinking about implementing a citation in lieu of arrest policy? Have you been implementing a policy and want to improve it? The UNC School of Government Criminal Justice […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (March 2023)
This post summarizes published criminal and related decisions released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during March 2023. Cases that may be of interest to state practitioners are summarized […]
How Can a Party Show Authorship of a Social Media Post or Other Electronic Communication?
Suppose that a defendant is charged with possessing fentanyl with the intent to sell it. The state’s evidence includes a Facebook direct message, purportedly from the defendant to an informant, […]