Carolina Law BlogGoing to court never used to be a worry for criminal defense lawyers. 
Ordinarily, attorneys have concerns, and a certain level of anxiousness, about the just disposition of criminal allegations and DWI charges in Charlotte.
We care deeply for clients and their well-being.
We went to law school to help people.
We want to make a difference in the lives of others.
We believe in our causes and passions.
We pray our words are heard with open ears, that we argue to the best of our ability, and that what we say proves persuasive in the end.
We want what’s best for clients.
Courtroom lawyers tend to be a competitive lot.
We like the challenge of the adversarial process. Arguing cases in court is something we enjoy doing.
It’s both terrifying and invigorating at times.
Managing client expectations and a certain amount of stress is inherent to the practice of law.
That was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
We now also have legitimate concerns about the health of our clients, our professional colleagues, our law office staff, and our families because of the Coronavirus.
Doing your job in a public and often crowded venue never used to be a worry.
It is now.
The Mecklenburg County Courthouse
Two weeks ago (July 16, 2020) the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court Ordered the wearing of facemasks in courthouses and courtrooms throughout the state.
It remains to seen how many Clerks, deputies, and other court personnel will contract the disease due to imperfect, if not occasional lackluster, compliance with the Chief Justice’s Order.
Lawyers are trusted with secrets.
We regularly are required to ask questions and obtain information from clients on the fly, as things develop in court.
As a result, defense lawyers are regularly in very close contact with clients.
Confidential information is whispered, face-to-face, only inches away between lawyer and client.
People are also clearly tired of wearing facemasks.
That’s easy to see whether you’re sitting in court in Mecklenburg or Union County or Iredell County state court.
Even deputies, probation officers, lawyers, and law enforcement regularly lower masks to speak or roll “nose out” style for a variety of reasons with little recognition of the additional mandate of physical distancing.
Given that, one would expect defense lawyers, as well as prosecutors, to experience a higher than normal incidence rate of COVID-19 exposures.
The Great State of Mecklenburg
Charlotte always has suffered from a bit of an inferiority complex.
We may refer to ourselves a “World-Class City,” but the truth is, Charlotte is the Rodney Dangerfield of North Carolina.
We get no respect.
Longtime Speaker of the NC House, Liston Ramsey, in recognizing a, “Representative from the Great State of Mecklenburg,” did so with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
The people on Jones Street never seem to care much about what Mecklenburg County has to say or what it needs.
They do enjoy getting our tax revenues, but that’s about it.
The population in Charlotte and the Charlotte-Metro region have exploded over the last three decades.
Uncontrolled growth has ensured systemic problems, most notably those involving the administration of justice.
Enamored by the glitter of “world-class” cities like Atlanta, Miami, and New York, we didn’t see or learn from their mistakes, particularly those involving crime and law enforcement.
Why is crime out of control in Charlotte? It was not difficult to foresee.
We predicted what has come to fruition.
Crime Statistics in Charlotte
Charlotte has a crime rate of 44 per 1,000 residents.
That makes it one of the highest crime rates in the United States when compared to communities of all sizes.
91% of communities in North Carolina have lower crime rates than in Charlotte.
The chance of being victimized by either a property crime or violent crime is 1 in 23 in Charlotte.
- Charlotte has a “Crime Index” of 6 – That means 94% of other cities in the U.S. are more safe
- Violent Crime per 1,000 residents
- Charlotte – 7.07 (Nearly double the rest of North Carolina)
- North Carolina – 3.78
- National Median / Average – 4.0
- Property Crime per 1,000 residents
- Charlotte – 36.98
- North Carolina – 24.94
- National Median / Average – 24.0
- Crimes Per Square Mile
- Charlotte – 128 (80% higher the rest of North Carolina)
- North Carolina – 26
- National Median / Average – 31.1
Then there’s the rest of North Carolina
One reason the vast majority of North Carolina doesn’t “get” us is that things are different here in Mecklenburg County.
That isn’t always a good thing.
Charlotte is messy. It’s congested. We live on top of one another. We have heavy traffic and a lot of crime per capita.
Obviously, one not need dig deep to unearth the biases, both implicit and explicit, and injustices in our court system.
Compared to small-town North Carolina, Charlotte is flashy, rushed, and loud.
There are two, very different North Carolinas.
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Charlotte
Our law firm is dedicated to helping people.
We’re courtroom lawyers.
We believe the Rule of Law includes due process, equal protection under the law, and the unbiassed administration of justice.
You are presumed innocent.
You have inalienable rights, including the right to remain silent.
You have the right to an attorney and if you have the ability to retain legal counsel, you should exercise that right.
In the event you are indigent, you should seek the appointment of counsel.
If you’re charged with DWI in Mecklenburg County or face allegations of criminal charges, our law firm is available for consultation.
Legal consultations for felony or misdemeanor cases, including “drunk driving” charges in Charlotte, Assault on a Female, and allegations of Domestic Violence, are free of charge.
They are also confidential. Lawyers keep secrets.
We are here to help.
Call NOW: 704-342-4357