Carolina?Quick Take: North Carolina v. Branham shows that guilty pleas in North Carolina do not automatically preserve appellate rights, but certiorari may sometimes fill the gap.
The Court of Appeals held no statutory right existed to appeal a denied immunity motion after a guilty plea.
North Carolina’s concealed carry law may be on the verge of a historic change. Presently, you must still have a valid permit to carry a
concealed handgun. On July 29, 2025, the North Carolina Senate voted to override Governor Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 50, known as the “Freedom to Carry NC” act. In order for the law to go into effect, the NC House must also vote to override the veto by a three-fifths majority.
Until both chambers of the NC General Assembly vote to override the Governor’s veto, the existing concealed carry permit requirement remains in full force. As the law now stands, anyone who carries a concealed handgun in North Carolina without a valid permit or legal authority, is still subject to criminal prosecution.
If you are facing criminal charges, are under investigation in the Charlotte metro region, including Mecklenburg and Union County, and want more information about carrying a concealed weapon charges, contact Powers Law Firm for experienced, confidential guidance. TEXT or call now: 704-342-4357
I’d already had a rough day when I got the text from my wife sharing Fergie passed. 
“Dang,” was the only thing I could respond.
I was without words.
Intermittent fasting has gained popularity for a range of personal and medical reasons, from weight management and metabolic 
health to religious observance and athletic discipline. While it may offer certain physiological benefits, fasting also triggers changes in the body’s metabolic pathways that may complicate the interpretation of forensic alcohol testing in DWI cases.
This can become relevant in North Carolina, where the outcome of driving while impaired charges hinge on the reliability of breath or blood alcohol test results.
Defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and forensic experts are occasionally called to consider whether intermittent fasting affects the body’s internal chemistry and the resulting reported BAC.
For years, the Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) protocol has relied on a structured set of physical observations to evaluate suspected drug impairment. Among these, the presence of eyelid tremor has been taught as a supposed sign of recent cannabis use. In practice, that means law enforcement officers conducting roadside evaluations or testifying in court may point to an eyelid tremor as evidence supporting probable cause or impairment. But as a recent study published in Clinical Toxicology makes clear, the scientific foundation for this assumption is, at best, unproven. At worst, it is affirmatively misleading.
In a 2024 peer-reviewed clinical research article by George Sam Wang and colleagues, the authors conducted a carefully controlled, blinded study to evaluate whether eyelid tremor could reliably and accurately be identified as a marker of recent cannabis use. The conclusion was clear. Eyelid tremor does not correlate with cannabis ingestion in a scientifically defensible way. Inter-rater reliability was poor to moderate. Specificity was dismal. And perhaps most importantly for DWI defense lawyers, the entire protocol used by officers to “spot” this supposed indicator would not come close to passing scientific muster in any peer-reviewed laboratory setting.
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.
One of the most common misconceptions in criminal cases is the belief that charges will automatically be dismissed if police fail to read Miranda rights. That belief, often shaped by television and popular culture, rarely reflects how Miranda operates under North Carolina criminal law.
Miranda rights are an important constitutional protection, but they apply only in specific circumstances. Understanding when Miranda warnings are required, and when they are not, can materially affect how a criminal case unfolds.
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 understands 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.
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.
In North Carolina, the presumption of innocence is more than a phrase. It is a legal principle that defines how the criminal justice system is supposed to treat you if you’ve 
been accused of a crime. But in real life, this idea is often misunderstood. You may hear it said in court, and you might even believe it should protect you. Still, once you’ve been charged, it can feel like the system assumes the opposite.
This article explains how the presumption of innocence works in practice in North Carolina, how it shapes the process, and what it means for you or a loved one facing criminal charges.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, it’s natural to have questions about how the system works. Understanding the presumption of innocence in North Carolina can help you make sense of what to expect and where to begin. If you’re looking for clarity or simply want to talk through what’s happening, you’re welcome to call or text Powers Law Firm at 704-342-4357. We may be able to help.
Carolina Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer Updates