There’s a persistent myth about criminal justice that criminal charges are straightforward, guilt is obvious, and if everyone simply did their job efficiently, cases would resolve in days rather than months or even years.
This illusion persists until someone finds themselves or a loved one on the receiving end of criminal charges or arrested for DWI.
Justice moves slowly by design. That isn’t dysfunction.
The decision to implement the Odyssey court system in North Carolina was not presented as a choice.
It was framed as inevitability.
They didn’t show up all at once. A little around the temples after a run of back-to-back felony trials. A little more after a long, sleepless night waiting for a jury to come back on a case that could have gone either way. Years of courtroom advocacy and life as a lawyer will do that. So will running a firm.
Grey hair isn’t a metaphor. It’s evidence. It’s what happens when you practice law long enough to be responsible not just for your own caseload, but for other lawyers in the firm, other families, and the next generation trying to learn how to do this work the right way.
How much does a criminal lawyer cost in NC? That is one of the first and most important questions people ask when they are facing charges. The answer depends on several factors, including the type of charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, how complex the case is, and how long it is expected to last.
This post explains how many criminal defense lawyers in North Carolina ordinarily set fees, what types of billing structures are common, and what is typically included and not included in those legal fees. Our goal is to give you a clear understanding of what to expect and how the process works.
While there is no statewide fee chart, a lot of private attorneys charge flat fees tailored to the specifics of your case.
If you’ve been arrested and are wondering about your Miranda rights, understanding when they actually apply and when they don’t could make a significant difference in your case.
If you’ve been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle in Mooresville or felony death by vehicle in the Charlotte metro region, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced North Carolina criminal defense lawyer. The criminal defense legal team at Powers Law Firm understand the intricacies of vehicular homicide cases and may be available to serve as legal counsel and guide you through your legal options. Call or TEXT 704-342-4357 to schedule a confidential consultation.
In the aftermath of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the proposed United States Constitution went to the states for approval. North Carolina emerged as a critical battleground in this ratification debate. Many North Carolinians were divided between Federalists, who supported the new Constitution as written, and Anti-Federalists, who feared it granted too much unchecked power to a central government.
The absence of a clear list of guaranteed individual rights in the federal Constitution became a focal point. North Carolina’s citizens
had fresh memories of British abuses of power before and during the Revolutionary era. They worried that without explicit protections, such as safeguards against arbitrary searches and seizures or other infringements, a new federal government might oppress the people just as past tyrannies had. This concern for fundamental liberties set the stage for North Carolina’s insistence on a Bill of Rights.
The Rule of Law is not just a value, a tradition, or a preference. It is the operating principle of 
the United States government and the foundation upon which legal rights, public institutions, and constitutional safeguards depend.
The Rule of Law in the United States does not mean that laws are always fair. It does not mean that legal outcomes are always just.
It means that law, rather than arbitrary power, determines how authority is exercised. It means that no person is above the law.
Some cases stay with you long after the courtroom clears. This is the story of a mentally ill client who entered a guilty plea in a murder case, and the extraordinary 
moments that followed. What he carried and what he chose to say changed the way I view my work as a criminal defense lawyer.
He wasn’t the first client I’d represented facing a murder charge. He wasn’t the youngest, the oldest, or even the most complicated. But something about this case, the years it took to resolve, the patience it demanded, the things I learned sitting beside him, will stay. I will carry the memory of that hearing with me, and what happened in that courtroom, for the rest of my legal career.
Felony Death by Vehicle is classified as a Class D felony in North Carolina. While almost all Class D felonies require active prison time, there is an extremely important exception. N.C.G.S. § 20-141.4(b)(2) allows a judge to impose an intermediate sentence upon a conviction of Felony Death by Vehicle if the defendant is determined to be a Prior Record Level One or “PRL I. That means, in limited circumstances and in the Court’s discretion, the judge may suspend the prison term and instead enter a judgment that includes probation. Probation remains discretionary and is by no means a legal right or guaranteed.
A conviction for Felony Death by Vehicle results in a felony criminal record. The consequences extend beyond incarceration. You may also face substantial fines, court costs, and civil exposure through a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the decedent’s family.
Every criminal defendant is entitled to a fundamentally fair trial. In North Carolina’s two-tier system, a defendant convicted in District Court (the lower criminal court) 
can seek an appeal from district criminal court to Superior Court for a fresh trial. But does this trial de novo appeal truly safeguard the right to a fair trial?
This post examines North Carolina’s two-tier criminal court structure and asks whether a trial de novo on appeal fully cures defects in the original proceeding. We explore statutory law (e.g. N.C.G.S. §§ 7A-271, 15A-1431), constitutional due process principles, and key cases – notably Ward v. Monroeville, 409 U.S. 57 (1972) – to assess if a defendant receives meaningful due process in the court of first instance. Legal professionals will recognize the tension between efficiency and fairness inherent in North Carolina’s system, and the question of whether the promise of a new trial compensates for any shortcomings at the District Court trial setting.
If you’re facing a legal issue and need clarity about the process or your next steps, call or TEXT Powers Law Firm at 704-342-4357 to see whether our defense attorneys are available to assist.
Carolina Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer Updates
