IDS is pleased to announce Becky Whitaker as the Defender Policy and Planning Attorney. Her official start date was February 15, 2023.
Becky spent five years in private practice, primarily in criminal defense. She was an IDS PAC roster attorney and then a contractor. More recently, she spent five years as a Research & Policy Associate at the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, where she primarily supported the 28-member Commission by assisting in the formulation of legal and policy recommendations related to criminal and juvenile justice. Her work included analysis and review of proposed legislation and the publication of statutorily mandated statistical reports, as well as reports on specialized policy projects.
Becky is a native of Lee County of North Carolina. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And she holds a law degree from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Becky’s primary focus at IDS will be to provide policy and legal support to IDS staff on public defense programs to ensure accountability and quality of services amongst the various public defense delivery models in North Carolina. Becky will provide assistance and quality assurance for all state-employed and contracted public defenders.
She said she is excited to be returning to serve those supported by indigent defense.
To reach Becky, send an email to Rebecca.B.Whitaker2@nccourts.org