Legislative and Policy

Highlighting state and national legislative news, focusing on some of the most important policy issues of the day.

Amending North Carolina Rule of Evidence 103

April 21, 2013

Rule 103 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence contains nearly identical language to the same Federal Rule of Evidence prior to its amendment in 2000.  Originally set to be effective on October 1, 2003, the General Assembly amended former Rule 103 by adding the following language to subsection ...[Continue Reading]

Orange County Public Smoking Ban to Take Effect in 2013

December 21, 2012

On November 21, Orange County Commissioners voted 6-1 to ban smoking in most public places.  Prior to the vote, the commissioners were presented with two gallon jars that contained more than 6,000 cigarette butts collected on Franklin Street in 2010.  Commissioner Earl McKee cast the only vote ...[Continue Reading]

California Bans Conversion Therapy for Gay Minors

December 8, 2012

Note from the Editors: On December 3, United States District Court Judge William Shubb ruled that the ban on conversion therapy signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown may violate free speech rights of therapists who oppose homosexuality. Judge Shubb issued an injunction preventing the ...[Continue Reading]

Can States Legalize the Use of Marijuana?

November 8, 2012

The November 2012 Election will be remembered for many reasons.  One of the most memorable and toughly fought presidential campaigns ended in a decisive win for President Barack Obama.  The balance of power in the United States Congress remained unchanged, but this 113th Congress will begin its ...[Continue Reading]

The Racial Injustice Act

August 13, 2012

Have you ever heard of Marcus Reymond Robinson?  He is the man who was convicted of kidnapping 17-year-old high-school student Erik Tornblom and shooting him in the face with a sawed-off shotgun during a robbery that netted a grand total of $27.  In 1994, Robinson was sentenced to death in ...[Continue Reading]

Rent to Illegal Aliens? Landlord, You May be Penalized

August 6, 2012

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down down several portions of Arizona’s immigration bill, holding that three of the four challenged sections were preempted by federal law. Federal preemption severely limits what state and local governments can do in terms of creating laws intended to ...[Continue Reading]
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