by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 28, 2014 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision this week that will help to protect the rights of individuals who find themselves under arrest. With this ruling, law enforcement officers across the country — and that includes North Carolina — must obtain a... by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 8, 2014 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
Certain North Carolina legislators have inserted an amendment into an appropriations bill that would require retractions by newspapers concerning reports about individuals being arrested who later are acquitted of the offense. The newspaper would also be required to... by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 6, 2014 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation may move from the Department of Justice to the governor’s office. If you recall from past posts, one of the criticisms of the SBI — especially following the News & Observer’s report about the... by Michelle Sparrow | May 12, 2014 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
We are returning to the story about the former North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation employee and his lawsuit alleging the SBI fired him without cause. Duane Deaver, a crime lab analyst, claimed that he was merely a scapegoat for the agency after the... by Michelle Sparrow | Apr 25, 2014 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
We are continuing our discussion a lawsuit filed by a former analyst for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab. The analyst, Duane Deaver, was linked to a number of cases that independent reviewers found problems with. The SBI fired him,... by Michelle Sparrow | Apr 24, 2014 | Criminal Defense
The Raleigh News & Observer won a national award for its investigative report about the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab. The multi-part story, published in 2010, was riveting, and it led to major changes at the SBI. An independent...