by Michelle Sparrow | Dec 29, 2014 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
We are wrapping up our discussion of changes to North Carolina’s criminal code that took effect on Dec. 1. The list looks a little haphazard — there is a trivia game in there somewhere: What do BB guns, Venus flytraps, inmates and cellphones have in... by Michelle Sparrow | Dec 24, 2014 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
We are continuing our discussion of laws that went into effect on Dec. 1, and we thought it was time to look at the new law protecting the Venus flytrap. The North Carolina General Assembly, on the recommendation of conservation groups, has increased the penalty for... by Michelle Sparrow | Dec 19, 2014 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
It seemed strange to be reading about the state’s law about BB guns so close to the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook shootings. But here we are anyway. The North Carolina General Assembly’s revised BB gun law went into effect on Dec. 1. Adam Lanza, the... by Michelle Sparrow | Dec 10, 2014 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
A handful of laws went into effect on Dec. 1 that will change how North Carolina’s criminal justice system handles some offenses and some offenders. We discussed perhaps the most far-reaching change in our Nov. 6 post, NC Voters approve defendant felon’s... by Michelle Sparrow | Dec 7, 2014 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
A new law went into effect in North Carolina at the beginning of the month that allows defendants to waive their right to a trial by jury and instead choose to have their case tried by a judge. Historically, the state Constitutional has afforded all criminal...