May 30, 2026

Racial Bias in Jury Selection | Batson Challenges

On May 29, 2026, reporting surrounding the United States Supreme Court’s review of a Mississippi death penalty case again pushed one of the oldest constitutional problems in American criminal law back into public discussion. The issue involves racial discrimination in jury selection under Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), and whether prosecutors improperly struck black jurors during a capital murder trial.

The opinion matters far beyond Mississippi. Jury selection disputes are a regular aspect of criminal trials in North Carolina. Prosecutors, defense lawyers, and trial judges still wrestle with the practical reality that Batson litigation remains one of the hardest constitutional violations to prove cleanly and one of the easiest constitutional protections to weaken through procedural language. Readers should care because jury selection determines who exercises the power of judgment in a criminal courtroom. A constitutional right means little if discriminatory conduct can be repackaged as “strategy,” “demeanor,” or “trial preference.”

TL;DR Batson Challenges |Racial Bias During Voir Dire Jury Selection

May 6, 2026

Working with Your Lawyer | Here’s What NOT to Do

by Carolina Attorneys

If you have a criminal charge, a traffic matter, an impaired driving case in North Carolina, or a related legal issue that might affect your license, liberty, family, job, reputation, or future, knowing how to work effectively with a defense lawyer is an important first step. Lawyers focus on case analysis, strategy, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy. The client’s role in that is important. We need to know, early on, what really happened.

That sounds simple until fear takes over. A pending case can make normally very reasonable folks act in ways that can hurt them in the long run. They start talking to witnesses, texting, and even trying to call the charging officer. Sometimes they explain themselves online or respond to a snarky comment on social media. Occasionally, clients hide facts from their lawyer because the truth seems too embarrassing.

To be clear, the lawyer-client relationship is not built on flattery, blind trust, or constant reassurance. Defense lawyers truly want to help their clients. That’s why we went to law school. We enjoy helping people. We want to make a difference. A solid professional relationship and trust can take time. Here’s What NOT To Do when it comes to working with your lawyer:

March 19, 2026

Understanding Criminal Defense Lawyers | Legal Fees

by Carolina Attorneys

Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is an important decision. For many clients, this is a first encounter with the criminal court system. Questions about legal fees, communication, court appearances, case strategy, and timing are understandable. The following information explains how representation works, so that expectations are clear from the outset.

Criminal defense work involves much more than standing beside a client in court. A hearing may take a short amount of time. The preparation behind that hearing often takes far longer. A great deal of the work in a criminal case happens outside the courtroom and outside the client’s view. That work normally begins immediately after the firm is retained.

Criminal Defense | How Legal Fees Are Structured

July 30, 2025

Remembering Fergie: A Giant Among Us

by Carolina Attorneys

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.

November 16, 2020

Practice Tips for Defense Lawyers – Preserving Issues for Appeal

by Carolina Attorneys

Jury trials, at least for criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors, represent the apex of professional life.

Prior to trial we review discovery, interview witnesses, and argue motions.

We anticipate what may or may not be admissible.

May 7, 2016

Do I Need a Lawyer for Protective Order Violation

by Carolina Attorneys

What are the Consequences Violating a Court Order? Do I Need a Lawyer for Protective Order Violation?

Answering the Question “Do I Need a Lawyer for Protective Order Violation” one would be wise to also consider:

Does It Matter if Order is Under NCGS Chapter 50?

August 17, 2014

What Does It Mean to Be Indicted in North Carolina?

by Carolina Attorneys

What Does It Mean to Be Indicted?

In an earlier post “The Grand Jury – What Does It Mean to be Indicted” we briefly mentioned the “indictment” and Grand Jury proceedings. Although most people have a working understanding of what the word “indictment” means and at the least have heard it used previously in news reports, television series and crime novels; most do not understand the integral role it plays in our complex legal system. It is therefore prudent to start from the ground up in understanding what an indictment is and the role it plays in the criminal legal practice.

To recap, the grand jury decides to issue an indictment if it believes there is sufficient evidence to charge someone with a crime. An indictment is the document setting forth such charges. To be specific, North Carolina General Statute 15A-641(a) defines the indictment as “a written accusation by a grand jury, filed with a superior court, charging a person with the commission of one or more criminal offenses.” Merrium-Webster Dictionary states the meaning quite simply as “an official written statement charging a person with a crime.”