New Publication on Initial Appearances before Magistrates – North Carolina Criminal Law Blog
We are excited to announce the publication of a new bulletin in our Administration of Justice series: “Initial Appearances before North Carolina Magistrates.” Special thanks to my colleagues Brittany Bromell and Melanie Crenshaw in putting this together. They were instrumental in discussing, crafting, and drafting this bulletin.
The bulletin is an overview of the process, considerations, and standards that must be applied when a person is brought before a North Carolina Magistrate for their initial appearance. Organized as a step-by-step guide, the bulletin addresses every stage of the initial appearance process, from determining when proceedings should begin, to evaluating probable cause, setting conditions of pretrial release, conducting required statutory inquiries, and appointing counsel when appropriate. The publication also provides extensive coverage of specialized topics including impaired driving cases, domestic violence offenses, fugitive proceedings, ICE detainers, pretrial release restrictions, and recent legislative developments affecting magistrates’ responsibilities. It also includes practical appendices, charts, and quick-reference materials.
An additional similar resource is the Administration of Justice Bulletin “Applications for Process Before North Carolina Magistrates.” This bulletin provides an overview of charging documents, search warrants, and other process that individuals may apply for before the magistrate. It describes the procedural and substantive requirements for issuing the process and is part of a greater project to revise and update “Criminal Proceedings before North Carolina Magistrates.”
As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments. I can be reached at [email protected].
