Opinion | When Local Journalism Changes the Law
While national media highlights the allegations against Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity, local reporting demonstrates how sustained journalism can uncover legal gaps and prompt legislative reform.
Criminal Law & Procedure
Viral Before Verdict: The Constitutional Cost of Staged Perp Walks
A defendant is shackled, handcuffed, and marched past cameras. Before prosecutors present any evidence, the public sees a defendant as already guilty. This practice undermines one of our legal system’s longstanding principles: the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.
Justice for Marsha Blakely and The Ohio Four
The Ohio Four were convicted in the 1991 killing of Marsha Blakely; all four have maintained their innocence to date.
A state split between North Carolina and South Carolina: Mitchell v. Wisconsin
When it comes to unconscious DUI suspects, the Supreme Court’s “almost always” rule in Mitchell v. Wisconsin has left states divided, defendants uncertain, and constitutional clarity hanging in the balance.
North Carolina v. Hasson Bacote
North Carolina’s First Successful Racial Justice Act Claim in Years
FACE Act Under Heightened Scrutiny as President Trump Pardons Pro-Life Advocates
Since Dobbs, the number of pro-life activists being prosecuted for violations of the 18 U.S.C. § 248 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act saw a marked uptick under the Biden Administration. After a wave of pardons by President Trump, important legal questions remain unanswered as Congress seeks to overturn the FACE Act.
How Long is Too Long?
Stopping a vehicle for speeding, writing a ticket, and sending that person on their way is on the “simple” side of the spectrum. Complexity arises with continued questioning, K’9’s, or asking drivers to step out of their vehicles. These additional factors suddenly create a growing issue: how long is too long for a traffic stop?
Racial Disparities in Capital Punishment: How Prosecutorial Power and Jury Selection Influence Death Penalty Sentencing
Justice is supposed to be blind – administered to everyone equally without regard to race or ethnicity. Yet, justice often turns a blind eye to the racial disparities within the courtroom and prisons nationwide.
Redefining Parental Responsibility: The Jennifer Crumbley Verdict and Its Implications for Mass Shooting Cases
For the first time, a parent has been charged with manslaughter after her child committed a school shooting.
The Murdaugh Dynasty’s Downfall: A Tale of Scandal, Murder, and a Shocking Twist
The Murdaugh family is no stranger to scandal, but on June 7, 2021, the shocking murders of his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, and their youngest son, Paul, sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Hampton County.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: An Epidemic
Countless cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women have been reported by Indigenous communities but have not made headlines. The
The Officer that Cried “Weed.” Why Some States Won’t Legalize Marijuana.
Picture it; a car is pulled over by the police for a traffic offense—perhaps speeding or not using a turn
Public Policy vs. The Constitution: Confronting Minor Victims of Sexual Assault
Ratified in 1791, the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions. The amendment
Murder on the “Rust” Express
As facts continue to come to light about Halyna Hutchins’s death, there is one thing that is known, Hutchins was
The Night the Lights Went Out in SC
The name “Murdaugh” has held a position of honor in the South Carolina Lowcountry for over three generations. In addition