by Michelle Sparrow | Oct 11, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Homicide
North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act was passed in 2009. It was intended to help defendants combat racial discrimination. Racial discrimination can, of course, be present in many forms. One way it has deeply affected the criminal justice system is in how some... by Michelle Sparrow | Apr 11, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Homicide
The bill that would repeal North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act has not made it out of committee in the House of Representatives, but the bill’s authors are confident that it will pass and be signed during this session. Opponents of the Racial Justice Act... by Michelle Sparrow | Apr 4, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Homicide
Senate Bill 306 passed the North Carolina Senate and headed to the House this week, moving the state closer to a full repeal of the Racial Justice Act and a return to executing death row inmates. The Racial Justice Act has been under fire at the General Assembly since... by Michelle Sparrow | Aug 2, 2012 | Criminal Law Blog, Homicide
Efforts to keep the Racial Justice Act intact failed this year. Just two days after Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed SB 416, the senate and the house voted to override her veto. The amendments are now law, and the battle against racial prejudice in North Carolina’s... by Michelle Sparrow | Jul 29, 2012 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue signed several bills into law earlier this month that the state’s criminal defense attorneys have been following. The new laws will change penalties, for the most part. One new crime also enters the books. One of the most...