The ACLU-NC joins a number of other concerned state-wide organizations to address the reported malfeasance of the State Bureau of Investigation revealed in a recent independent investigation into the Serology lab and a News & Observer series on the SBI crime lab as a whole. The press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, August 23rd at the State Capitol, 1 East Edenton St in Raleigh.

Over 150 people turned out to support marriage equality in downtown Raleigh today. The rally, planned in response to the National Organization for Marriage, lasted two hours and demonstrated clear support for marriage equality and LGBT families. The rally was good natured and hopeful despite the calls just across the street for a constitutional amendment to North Carolina's Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The National Organization for Marriage attendees were outnumbered 3 to 1 by those supporting equality.

In response to attacks on the freedom to marry and a protest planned by the National Organization for Marriage, a group opposed to marriage equality, a group of students began planning a counter-protest which will be taking place tomorrow, August 10th, in downtown Raleigh. Making this rally even more timely, a judge decided just last week that Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment to the California Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman, was unconstitutional.

The first motions on behalf of death row inmates under the Racial Justice Act (RJA) were filed this week. RJA was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2009 after three years of effort and was signed into law by Governor Perdue on August 11, 2009. The portion of the law dealing with people already convicted of capital crimes requires that their motions be filed by August 10th, 2010. Five death row inmates filed motions claiming racial bias on Tuesday backed by a comprehensive study of North Carolina's capital sentencing conducted by Michigan State University.

Today, the House of Representatives passed S 1789 the Fair Sentencing Act with bi-partisan support and the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. This important reform to the unfair and unnecessary crack cocaine sentencing law reduces the disparity between sentencing for drug crimes involving crack cocaine versus powder cocaine. Until now, possessing or dealing five grams of crack cocaine—the weight of two pennies—resulted in the same five-year mandatory minimum sentence as dealing 500 grams of powder cocaine.

Cross posting from the Blog of Rights:

Towards the end of a marathon session that lasted almost 20 hours, the North Carolina House and Senate reached an agreement on HB 1403 Collect DNA Sample on Arrest and both chambers passed the measure early this morning. HB 1403 creates an end-run around the Fourth Amendment and flies in the face of the presumption of innocence by allowing law enforcement to take DNA from all individuals arrested, but not convicted of many felonies and some misdemeanors without a warrant.

In a vote of 46-1, with only Senator Eleanor Kinnaird voting against the proposal, the NC Senate passed HB 1403 Collect DNA Sample on Arrest this afternoon. Senator Kinnaird spoke eloquently against the bill and in favor of "protecting the constitution." The Senate did make changes to the bill so it must return to the House for a concurrence vote in which the House can either approve or disapprove the Senate version. HB 1403 is expected to be in the House for the concurrence vote tomorrow, July 9th.

In a vote of 92-23, the NC House of Representatives passed HB 1403 Collect DNA Sample on Arrest this afternoon. The bill creates an end-run around the Fourth Amendment, allowing law enforcement to take DNA without a warrant from anyone arrested for certain felonies and misdemeanors. Despite compelling comments about the privacy concerns raised and concerns that the state cannot pay the tab for the proposal, it passed overwhelmingly.

The proposal that would allow law enforcement to take DNA on arrest for many crimes without a warrant or probable cause is headed to the NCGA House floor. HB 1403 Collect DNA on Arrest passed it's final committee and is scheduled to be heard on the House floor tomorrow, July 6th.

Call your House Representative today and ask them to oppose this bill on the floor! Contact your House Rep using the NCGA website.