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Recent Articles from Teresa Bruno, Opinions Editor
Criminal Practice – Writs of Mandamus & Certiorari – Unpublished Order
We improvidently granted certiorari to review an unpublished order of the Court of Appeals dated Aug. 4, 2017, denying defendant’s petitions for writ of mandamus or writ of certiorari to […]
Criminal Practice – Probation Violation – Absconding – Probation Term
As to the issue of whether the evidence in this case could support a determination that defendant violated G.S. § 15A-1343(b)(3a), we hold that the state failed to carry its […]
Criminal Practice – Expert Testimony – Fingerprint Comparison – Harmless Error – Assault Charges – Search Warrant
We improvidently allowed discretionary review of the Court of Appeals’ decision (Although the state’s fingerprint expert explained her usual procedure for comparing fingerprints, she provided no detail in testifying about […]
Criminal Practice – Multiple Conspiracies – Armed Robbery Spree
We affirm the Court of Appeals’ decision (Although defendant and his companions were all wearing dark clothing, and although police found head and face coverings, gloves and weapons inside their […]
Criminal Practice – Evidence – Post-Conviction DNA Testing
We affirm our Court of Appeals’ unpublished decision to uphold the trial court’s denial defendant’s pro se “Motion to Locate and Preserve Evidences [sic] and Motion for Post-Conviction DNA Testing.” […]
Criminal Practice – Search & Seizure – Plain View Doctrine – No Apparent Crime – Probationer’s Gun
We reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals for the reasons stated in Judge Arrowood’s dissent (Under the regular terms and conditions of probation, the shotgun was contraband. Given […]
Civil Practice – Contempt – Refusal to Comply – Real Property – Trespass
We vacate our Court of Appeals’ decision (Regardless of whether defendants have the ability to comply with the trial court’s order – requiring them to remove structures from plaintiff’s land […]
Most Important Opinions for the 3Q 2018
The most important opinions from the third quarter of 2018
Criminal Practice – Evidence – Defendant’s Post-Arrest Statements – Cross-Examination – Sentencing – Aggravating Factors – Pretrial Notice
After his arrest, defendant told police where he had left his six-year-old victim chained to a tree, told them how to unlock the chains, said he was sorry and that […]
Criminal Practice – Rape – Eyewitness Testimony & Physical Evidence – SBM – No Hearing
The state presented the following evidence: (1) the victim was heard screaming; (2) strangers Jean and John ran toward the sound of the screams and “saw a man straddling” the […]
Criminal Practice – Murder – Evidence – Facebook Messages – Felony Murder
The state presented evidence of a Facebook message showing hostility between defendant and the victim over defendant’s interactions with the victim’s girlfriend and that (1) on the same night as […]
Criminal Practice – Sentencing – Juvenile Offender – Life without Parole – First Impression
Where the trial court found that “there is no certain prognosis” for defendant’s potential for rehabilitation, defendant – who was 17 when he committed the two murders at issue – […]
Top Legal News
- File-sharing conviction qualifies as crime of child abuse under immigration law
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- SCOTUS News: Justices shut down Roundup failure-to-warn claims
- Conservative court candidate’s ties to convicted sex offender draw scrutiny
- Sentencing enhancement vacated for lack of predicate felony findings
- Trump’s power takes center stage in US Supreme Court’s home stretch
- Fraud claims against hospital revived in surgery dispute
- US Supreme Court ends suit alleging Cisco helped China pursue Falun Gong
- US Supreme Court boosts Exxon’s bid to get compensation from Cuba
- SCOTUS News: ‘State-court loser’ can’t seek relief in federal court
- Court of Appeals affirms dismissal of untimely appeal in estate property sale dispute
Commentary
- When is a PIP an adverse employment action?
- Legally Speaking: What spring can teach us about active listening
- A useful patent management government notice
- Opinion: NC judges have enormous power. Be sure to vote in November
- The third option: Why your best employees are quietly losing their edge
- AI divorce is real, but family law can still save itself
- ‘AI won’t take your job’ and other things CEOs say before the layoffs
- When not to believe (your lyin’ eyes)
- Conduct a technology audit to improve law firm efficiency
- When the client brings ChatGPT to the consultation
- Content Marketing: Where law firms lose referrals and how to prevent it
- Your best people are not leaving for more money — they are leaving because you stopped paying attention
