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... by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 21, 2012 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
As the General Assembly hands the Racial Justice Act bill over to the governor, the North Carolina House could be debating another bill that would radically change the state’s pretrial release programs. The bill’s sponsors claim the programs are... by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 9, 2012 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
North Carolina drivers will soon have to move over more often or face a $250 fine. The General Assembly voted this week to expand the Move Over law to include utility and road maintenance crews. The penalty will remain a fine; the driver will not be cited for a moving... by Michelle Sparrow | Jun 7, 2012 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
As predicted, the North Carolina House of Representatives is considering a proposal that would radically alter the Racial Justice Act. As we have discussed, the act allows inmates and defendants sentenced to death to use statistics to prove that their trials were...