News Roundup (May 8, 2026)
Jeff Welty
Just over a week ago, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in the Eastern District of North Carolina. This press release from the United States Department of Justice explains […]
Right to Two Counsel in Capital Cases (May 7, 2026)
Shea Denning
More than thirty years before the United States Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), determined that the Sixth Amendment guarantee of appointed counsel for indigent defendants […]
Initial Appearances, Implied Consent Offenses, and Offenses Involving Impaired Driving (Part 1) (May 6, 2026)
Belal Elrahal
During any initial appearance, magistrates must consider a host of issues. Starting with determining whether to begin the initial appearance, finding probable cause, determining whether they may set pretrial release […]
Detention and Release in Extradition Cases (May 5, 2026)
Brittany Bromell
In my last post, I noted that I am doing more work in the area of extradition. The news generated a lot of great questions, many of which I hope […]
News Roundup (May 1, 2026)
Joseph L. Hyde
A Greensboro, NC, police academy cadet has been charged with impersonating a police officer, per this story from local media. Maceo John Cannon, 20, allegedly confronted a woman about her […]
Appointment of Counsel in First-Degree Murder Cases When the Accused is Age 13 – 17 (April 28, 2026)
Jacquelyn Greene
In late March The Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) instituted a new process for the appointment and payment of counsel for cases in which a juvenile between the ages […]
News Roundup (April 24, 2026)
Phil Dixon
A Fort Bragg solider stands accused of using confidential national security information to place lucrative bets on the ousting of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to this article, the […]
Expert-Testimony Phrase Chart for Cases Involving Alleged Child Sexual Abuse (April 23, 2026)
Daniel Spiegel
As I mentioned last month, Timothy Heinle and I are nearing completion of an updated Superior Court Judges’ Benchbook chapter on Evidence Issues in Criminal Cases Involving Child Victims and […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (March 2026) (April 21, 2026)
Phil Dixon
This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during March 2026. Cases of potential interest to state practitioners are summarized monthly. […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (April 15, 2026). (April 20, 2026)
Joseph L. Hyde
This post summaries the published opinions in criminal cases issued by the North Carolina Court of Appeals on April 15, 2026. Sufficient evidence supported denying the defendant’s motion to dismiss […]