Common Character Evidence Questions in Self-Defense Cases
Character evidence is one of the most challenging areas of evidence law to navigate, as Jessie Smith observes here. Jessie’s blog features a useful chart to apply Rules 404 and […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (May 7, 2025)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on May 7, 2025. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
Machine-Generated Data, Lab Tests, and the Confrontation Clause
The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits the use of testimonial hearsay statements by an unavailable witness at a criminal trial, as does its state […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (Jan. 2025)
This post summarizes published criminal law cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during January 2025. Cases of potential interest to state practitioners are summarized monthly. Previous summaries […]
Is Santa a Criminal?
Around this time of year, many Americans begin to think about Santa. Will he visit? What will he bring? Will Rudolph be guiding his sleigh? As children normally picture him, […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Dec. 17, 2024)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on December 17, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
News Roundup
People of a certain age will remember the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. In 1989, when they were 21 and 17 years old, they shot and killed their parents in […]
News Roundup
Our hearts are with our clients and others who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. Expertise among faculty and staff of the School of Government may be valuable to local […]
Case Summaries: N.C. Court of Appeals (Aug. 20, 2024)
This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on August 20, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]
Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (July 2024)
This post summarizes published criminal law and related cases released by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during July 2024. Cases of potential interest to state practitioners are summarized monthly. […]