The annual 2025 Spring Public Defender Conference convened Wednesday, May 7, in Winston-Salem.
Emily Byrum, APD from Defender District 15, was this year’s recipient of the NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby’s Award for Professionalism, given this year by James “Jimbo” Perry.
The Hon. Judge Mary Ann Tally was in attendance to receive the inaugural Mary Ann Tally Award for Excellence in Advocacy. This is a new award developed by the executive committee of the North Carolina Association of Public Defenders (NCAPD) that will be awarded annually from now onward.
There were two recipients this year for the Wallace C. “Wally” Harrelson Public Defender Award for Excellence: Natasha Adams, APD from Defender District 18; and Michael Troutman, APD from Defender District 24.
This year’s winner of the Professor John Rubin “Ruby” Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Indigent Defense Training Programs was Anthony Monaghan.
And the James E. Williams Award for Dedication in Fighting for Racial Equity in the North Carolina Criminal Justice System went to Tonza Ruffin, Chief PD from Defender District 7.
The destination for next year’s conference is Cherokee, NC.
