Motion for appropriate relief, MAR, procedural bar, N.C.G.S. § 15A-1419, retroactive change in law, forfeiture of counsel, State v. Simpkins, 373 N.C. 530 (2020).

Prejudicial Error; Prejudice; Closing argument; Opening argument; Rule 10; Expert Testimony; Confrontation Clause; Double Jeopardy; Death by Distribution; Sale and/or Delivery of a Controlled Substance; Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Voluntary Dismissal; Relief from Judgment; Motion to Enforce Settlement

North Carolina Domestic Violence Act; N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 50B; Domestic Violence Protective Order; ex parte DVPO; DVPO entered after notice and opportunity to be heard; one-year DVPO; one-year time limitation; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-3; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-3(b); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50B-2(c)(5); statutory construction; plain meaning; statutory construction in context; Rudder v. Rudder

A law firm, as a corporate entity, may not serve as trustee of a trust or executor of a will without being authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-303(a).

environmental enhancement grants program; declaratory judgment; motion to dismiss; civil penalties; Article IX, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution; Article V, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution; appropriations clause; gift clause; Article IX, Section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution.

motion to dismiss; N.C.R. App. P. 10(a)(3); ineffective assistance of counsel; motion for appropriate relief; civil judgment for attorney's fees

Rule of Evidence 901; authentication of video; satellite-based monitoring; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208.40A

Ineffective assistance of counsel; Competency; Psychiatric report; Sua sponte competency hearing; North Carolina Rules of Evidence Rule 901. 

felony stalking; sufficient indictment; State v. Singleton; assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer; jury instruction; no affirmative defense presented at trial to support giving the requested jury instruction; no evidence presented at trial to support giving the requested jury instruction

Competent evidence; motion to suppress; police checkpoints; probable cause.

Separation of Powers;
Gubernatorial appointments;
Building Code Council;
Utilities Commission;
Appellate Judicial Vacancies;
Facial Constitutional Challenge;
Summary Judgment;
Three Judge Panel;

Statutory interpretation; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1; canon of last antecedent; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-43.17; plain meaning

Pataky analysis; unincorporated separation agreement; attorney's fees; North Carolina Child Support Guidelines

Rule 12(b)(6); at-will employment; wrongful discharge; N.C.G.S. § 143-422.2; sex discrimination.

Adjudication of abuse and neglect; Rule 17 GAL; minor parent; waiver of Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination; unchallenged findings of fact support that minor child was an abused child

Rule 9(j); medical malpractice

child support award, income, bad faith, retrospective child support, prospective child support, exchange rate, live-in nanny care, Montessori school, child support arrears, judgment, N.C.G.S. § 50-13.4(f)(8).