North Carolina

Gun comment backfires on court attendee, who is both held in contempt and criminally charged

Unhappy over the denial of his motion in a North Carolina child-support court, 51-year-old James Michael Robinette allegedly made a comment that made the situation considerably worse. “I guess I’ll just have to go get my gun,” he said, according to a news release by the Lincoln County sheriff’s department.…

Feb 18, 2016 5:00 PM CST

Neighbor didn’t have standing to challenge modern house in historic district, appeals court says

A homeowner in a historic district didn’t have standing to challenge design approval of a modern home built across the street, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled. The appeals court opinion said Gail Wiesner didn’t have standing because she didn’t establish “special damages” that differ from those suffered…

Feb 18, 2016 10:47 AM CST

Former NC justice calls for outside review of state bar, says it’s divided into ‘two extreme camps’

A former justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court says the state bar is divided into “two extreme camps” and he believed an outside review is needed. Former Justice Bob Orr tells the Raleigh News & Observer that one camp in the state bar is more supportive of prosecutors and…

Feb 9, 2016 5:45 AM CST

Lawyer relinquishes his law license to make a point

A North Carolina lawyer dissatisfied with the legal profession decided to make his point by relinquishing his law license, rather than opting for inactive status. Former legal-aid lawyer Lewis Pitts succeeded when the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in October on a new procedure to relinquish bar membership, the Raleigh…

Jan 19, 2016 12:03 PM CST

Lawyer crossed line by taking water bottle for DNA test without permission, panel says

Updated: A North Carolina lawyer crossed an ethical line by taking a water bottle from a woman’s home without her permission and using it for a DNA test, a state bar disciplinary panel said Thursday. However, it found that Christine Mumma, who serves as director of the North Carolina Center…

Jan 14, 2016 3:05 PM CST

Lawyer accused of conducting DNA test on water bottle without permission testifies in ethics hearing

A North Carolina lawyer accused of taking a water bottle without permission to test for DNA testified in her ethics hearing on Tuesday. Christine Mumma, director of the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, said she took the water bottle by mistake, but decided to have it tested because it…

Jan 13, 2016 9:46 AM CST

Attorney takes plea deal in marijuana ‘grow house’ case

A Raleigh, North Carolina, attorney accused of playing a role in a marijuana “grow house” operation and using his law office to help prepare fraudulent applications for bank loans has taken a plea deal. Joseph Lee Levinson pleaded guilty Friday to a federal conspiracy count concerning false statements made to…

Jan 12, 2016 2:15 PM CST

Top NC court vacates ruling for death-row inmates claiming racial bias in their sentences

The North Carolina Supreme Court has vacated a judge’s finding that racial bias played a role in the death sentences of four inmates. The state supreme court said the judge should have granted prosecutors more time to respond to a statistical study used to support the inmates’ racial bias claim,…

Dec 21, 2015 11:38 AM CST

Does lawyer have ethical duty to replace hacked client funds? It depends, ethics opinion says

A lawyer who takes reasonable computer security precautions has no ethical responsibility to replace stolen client money when a hacker breaks into the network and pilfers trust account funds, according to an ethics opinion by the North Carolina State Bar. The hacking hypothetical is one of seven scenarios involving stolen…

Nov 23, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Judge charged in federal bribery case is accused of paying FBI agent $100 for copies of texts

A North Carolina superior court judge who chairs the state’s Innocence Inquiry Commission was arrested Wednesday after allegedly paying a FBI agent $100 on Tuesday for a disk purportedly containing copies of text messages between two phone numbers. Judge Arnold Ogden Jones II was federally indicted (PDF) by a grand…

Nov 4, 2015 1:45 PM CST

Lawyer saves fellow motorist in burning car from fiery explosion

A North Carolina attorney en route to work at a Raleigh courthouse may have saved a fellow motorist’s life on Tuesday morning. John McWilliam noticed flames under the SUV in front of him as both were headed into a parking garage and shouted to the driver to get out. Luis…

Nov 3, 2015 4:55 PM CST

Lawyer accused judges of ‘incompetence and ignorance’ in pleading, ethics complaint alleges

A North Carolina lawyer is facing disciplinary charges in part over some off-color remarks he made in his pleadings about opposing counsel and a panel of state appeals court judges. Michael J. Anderson of Wilson is accused in the complaint (PDF) of engaging in discourteous conduct that is degrading to…

Nov 3, 2015 4:26 PM CST

LegalZoom resolves $10.5M antitrust suit against North Carolina State Bar

LegalZoom has settled its protracted legal dispute with the North Carolina State Bar with a consent agreement that permits the company to continue operating there, Forbes reports. The online legal document company has been expanding quickly to provide other services, including prepaid legal services plans. The agreement comes on the…

Oct 23, 2015 3:15 PM CDT

Husband’s tears weren’t protected by spousal privilege, appellate court rules

A husband’s tears during a private drive with his wife could be used as evidence to help convict him in a rape case, a North Carolina appeals court ruled Tuesday. It rejected a defense lawyer’s argument that the man’s crying was essentially an admission by silence and hence a privileged…

Oct 20, 2015 2:30 PM CDT

Using private court entrances protected defendant and counsel, but was it good for judges?

After a police officer was surrounded by media and followed by taunting protesters as he entered a North Carolina courthouse for his arraignment in a voluntary manslaughter case, the Mecklenburg County sheriff devised a new security plan. Following that December incident, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Randall “Wes” Kerrick and his defense…

Sep 18, 2015 3:25 PM CDT