Criminal Defense Blog

Fifty Shades of Display: How the N.C. Legislature Hopes to Use Colored License Plates to Shame DWI Defendants
Fifty Shades of Display: How the N.C. Legislature Hopes to Use Colored License Plates to Shame DWI Defendants Howard Kurtz - 4/19/2013 The North Carolina Legislature seems to be caught in a time warp. A new proposed law would take people convicted of DWIs back to the days when public humiliation was used to punish.
Drug Dogs Bark as Bad as Bite
Drug Dogs Bark as Bad as Bite Howard Kurtz - 4/12/2013 Up until recently drug dogs were permitted to sniff around cars and, as far as we all knew, everything else. As of March that all changed. The Supreme Court now holds that drug dogs can't be taken up to a front door of a house. The criminal lawyers of Kurtz & Blum are on the scent.
Cops, DWIs, and Videotape: Proposed N.C. law would require police to record DWI arrests from start to finish.
Cops, DWIs, and Videotape: Proposed N.C. law would require police to record DWI arrests from start to finish. Howard Kurtz - 4/3/2013 Proposed legislation would require all stages of a DWI arrest to be videoed, but does the bill go far enough? Lawyers question why in 2013, all police cars aren't already equipped with dashboard cameras.
NC Drivers With a CDL Cannot Be Punished Twice
NC Drivers With a CDL Cannot Be Punished Twice Howard Kurtz - 3/1/2013 NC law punishes commercial drivers twice over by revoking their CDL if they receive a revocation on their civil license. In State v. McKenzie, the NC Court of Appeals used the Double Jeopardy Rule to find that the state cannot revoke a CDL for a full year just because a driver received a civil license revocation.
Cooper Case Appeal Brief for the Defense
Cooper Case Appeal Brief for the Defense Howard Kurtz - 11/6/2012 Update about State v. Cooper. In this post we link directly to the defense appeal brief which was filed yesterday in the Court of Appeals. Keep in mind, there are page limitations on appeals so only the most egregious and outcome altering rulings were addressed. Credit for the brief goes to Ann Petersen of Chapel Hill.
Legal Tech: How to Overcome Hurdles in Digital Evidence
Legal Tech: How to Overcome Hurdles in Digital Evidence Howard Kurtz - 10/24/2012 If you have received surveillance footage that you are having trouble playing, I may just have the answer for your.
Cooper Criminal Appeal Update 10/18/12 from his Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers
Cooper Criminal Appeal Update 10/18/12 from his Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers Howard Kurtz - 10/18/2012 The date for the defense brief in Brad's appeal has been moved back to November.
The Best Opinion Ever
The Best Opinion Ever Howard Kurtz - 10/8/2012 The Court in United States v Sowards lays down the law when it comes to whether an officer can use an unsupported guess whether someone is speeding a few miles over the limit. This is one of the best and most amusing opinions ever. Here are some of the highlights.
The Champion of Justice for Brad Cooper
The Champion of Justice for Brad Cooper Howard Kurtz - 10/4/2012 In the wake of the wrongful conviction of Brad Cooper, a heroine has arisen to champion his cause. Lynne Blanchard, a woman without any prior connection to the case has made it her mission to right this injustice. Her work has been nothing short of incredible and she has done the work for no motivation other than to ensure that justice, not vengeance, prevails.
What To Do If Investigated: Press Release Article
What To Do If Investigated: Press Release Article Howard Kurtz - 9/19/2012 See what our Raleigh criminal lawyers have to say about what you should do if you are investigated by the police. Did you know that over 2,000 people have been completely exonerated since 1989? Can you imagine they did 10,000 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit?

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