Tag Archive: raleigh criminal lawyer

First Degree Burglary in North Carolina

We’re approaching that time of year when the weather starts to get a little nicer (although this year has been a very mild winter in Raleigh!) Around this time, people start coming out of their homes to enjoy the weather, to have fun, and to hang out with friends. And each spring in Wake County…

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The State’s Use of Appeal and MAR in District Court

When a judge renders a judgment in District CourtDistrict Court is the lower of two levels of trial court in North Carolina. Misdemeanors begin (and can be resolved) in District Court. Most felonies also begin in District Court, but only Class H and Class I felonies may be resolved in District Court., a Defendant has…

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Confrontation Clause: Right to Confront

Testimonial statements may not be admitted at trial if the witness is unavailable and the defendant has not had an adequate prior opportunity to cross-examine the witness. Such statements would violate the defendant’s Confrontation Clause rights if admitted at trial. What constitutes an adequate prior opportunity to cross examine? In State v. Ross, the Defendant…

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Victory for Criminal Defendants

DiscoveryDiscovery is the process of exchanging information between the prosecution or defense in a case. Discovery is also a term used to describe all of the information – police reports, videos, physical evidence, photographs, etc. – that has been given to the Defense in a criminal case. is the process by which each side in…

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Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) and Raleigh DWI cases

Recent changes to North Carolina’s DWIA DWI is a Driving While Impaired offense. It is more commonly referred to as drunk driving. In North Carolina, the term DWI is used. In other states, the terms DUI or OUI may be used. North Carolina’s DWI is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to three years in jail….

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Electronic House Arrest vs. Electronic Monitoring

This post deals with the post-convictionA conviction is a formal finding by a court – either following a trial by a judge or jury or following the entry of a pleaA plea agreementA plea agreement is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead…

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North Carolina Structured Sentencing is No Longer Structured

Up until the mid-1990s, North Carolina had a sentencing system called Fair Sentencing. The major criticisms of Fair Sentencing were that: There was no truth in sentencing. The actual sentence served was usually much lower than the stated sentence at sentencing. There was disparity in how people were treated from place to place, and defendant…

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Scope of Entitlement for Indigent Services

Any person, including non-citizens, is entitled to representation and, if that person cannot afford an attorney, both the United States Constitution and North Carolina law guarantee that person the right to an attorney. The attorney – whether he or she is a public defenderA court appointed lawyer is a lawyer appointed by the Court (sometimes…

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Probation Violations and Revocations in North Carolina

Recent changes to North Carolina’s post-convictionA conviction is a formal finding by a court – either following a trial by a judge or jury or following the entry of a pleaA plea agreementA plea agreement is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead…

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Post Supervision Release and New Maximum Sentences

In light of recent changes to North Carolina’s post-supervision release and post-convictionA conviction is a formal finding by a court – either following a trial by a judge or jury or following the entry of a pleaA plea agreementA plea agreement is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution…

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