The Voluntary Intoxication defense in North Carolina criminal law is not an excuse for unlawful conduct but an evidentiary doctrine that can negate the specific intent required for certain crimes. It is one of the most demanding defenses to raise, requiring a high threshold of proof. Key Principles of the…
In North Carolina v. Capps, the North Carolina Court of Appeals examined two key issues arising from a felonious possession of stolen goods conviction: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to prove the defendant’s constructive possession of stolen property; and (2) whether the trial court erred by excluding as hearsay…
Is sexual discrimination during jury selection a problem in North Carolina courtrooms? In North Carolina v. Bell, the North Carolina Supreme Court considered whether the defendant’s claim—that prosecutors used peremptory strikes based on gender—had been properly preserved for appeal or post-conviction review. The Court said no. This case is a…