Archives for May 2015

In a case currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, the government has argued that its interests in obtaining recovery of government funds obtained through fraud takes precedence over the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. If the Supreme Court takes the case, North Carolina criminal defendants may find themselves without the ability to pay for the counsel that the Sixth Amendment gives them the right to retain. The owner of two healthcare companies is accused of paying bribes to patients … [Read more...]

While a plea bargain may often be considered an admission of guilt, there's more to the purpose of accepting a plea bargain than North Carolina residents may think. A plea bargain may be helpful to not only the defendant but the prosecuting attorney and judge, too. Individuals may know that a defendant who accepts a plea bargain may be able to complete a shorter prison sentence than if they ere to go through an entire trial. However, a plea bargain also shortens the amount of time and lowers … [Read more...]