North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

May 14, 2026

South Carolina lawyer Murdaugh’s murder conviction overturned

South Carolina’s highest court on May 13 overturned the murder conviction of former lawyer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, who was serving two consecutive life sentences for allegedly shooting his wife […]

May 6, 2026

AI errors in murder case lead to discipline for Georgia prosecutor

The Georgia Supreme Court on May 5 disciplined a prosecutor, finding her misuse of artificial intelligence tools led to fake and misleading case citations appearing in a murder case ruling. The state’s high court barred Deborah Leslie, […]

Aug 12, 2025

Court of Appeals vacates Wingate’s conviction over expert vouching testimony

NC Court of Appeals vacates Wingate’s conviction; expert testimony improperly bolstered child’s credibility—remands case for new trial.

Jul 18, 2024

‘Rust’ armorer seeks conviction dismissal or new trial

SANTA FE, N.M. — A movie armorer has asked a judge to dismiss her involuntary manslaughter conviction or convene a new trial in the shooting death of a cinematographer by […]

Dec 8, 2017

Criminal Practice – Jury Instructions – Flight – New Trial

State v. Sanchez (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-083-17, 1 p.) (Per Curiam) Appealed from Wake County Superior Court (Michael O’Foghludha, J.) On discretionary review from the Court of Appeals. N.C. S. […]

Apr 17, 2017

Civil Practice – Post-Trial Motions – New Trial – JNOV – Attorneys’ Fees

RCJJ, LLC v. RCWIL Enterprises, LLC (Lawyers Weekly No. 020-034-17, 14 pp.) (Gregory McGuire, J.) 2017 NCBC 24 Holding: The only claim for which the jury awarded plaintiffs damages was […]

Nov 22, 2016

Civil Practice – New Trial Motion – Motion for Relief – Five-Year Delay – Landlord/Tenant

Swofford, Inc. v. Fisher (Lawyers Weekly No. 012-226-16, 10 pp.) (Chris Dillon, J.) Appealed from Rockingham County District Court (Frederick Wilkins Jr., & Christin Strader, JJ.) N.C. App. Unpub. Holding: […]

Sep 2, 2014

2 men convicted of killing girl in 1983 seek new trial

Half brothers who have spent 30 years in prison for the killing and rape of an 11-year-old North Carolina girl are heading to court to ask that their convictions be overturned based on DNA analysis of a cigarette butt found at the crime scene.

Aug 22, 2012

Criminal Procedure – Murder — Brady Error — New Trial

Wolfe v. Clarke A defendant convicted of murder-for-hire has shown that state prosecutors violated Brady v. Maryland when they intentionally withheld a detective’s report about conversation with the chief prosecution witness who said defendant asked him to commit the murder, and the 4th Circuit grants defendant’s § 2254 petition in this murder-for-hire case.

Apr 25, 2012

Criminal Practice – Jury & Jurors – Wikipedia Research – Cockfighting Charges – New Trial

U.S. v. Lawson A juror’s use of Wikipedia to research an element of a criminal offense violated defendant’s right to a fair trial on illegal “cockfighting” charges, and the 4th Circuit vacates defendant’s conviction for violating an animal fighting statute, 7 U.S.C. § 2156(a), and conspiracy convictions of defendants related solely to the animal fighting activities.

Apr 6, 2012

Criminal Practice – Motion for Appropriate Relief – New Trial – Newly Discovered Evidence – Drug Possession – Father’s Admission

State v. Rhodes At defendant’s trial for drug possession, defendant’s father “plead the Fifth” when he was asked whether the drugs belonged to him, and defendant’s mother refused to testify against her husband. After defendant was convicted and placed on probation, defendant’s father admitted that the drugs were his. The judge who presided over defendant’s trial and motion f[...]

Feb 10, 2012

Criminal Practice – Extortion – Entitlement – Threats of Violence – First Impression — Evidence – New Trial – Possession of Stolen Goods – Constructive Possession

State v. Privette Even if defendant was innocent of the charges for which he was jailed, he could still commit extortion by threatening to assault or kill the guilty party if he did not turn himself in. Nevertheless, evidence of hypothetical violence (what defendant said he would do to his wife if she were a man) should not have been admitted.