Whitney B. Fairbanks began work as the new Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) on August 10, 2026. She steps into the role after a decade as the agency’s Assistant Director and General Counsel, a run that gave her about as close a view of the system as anyone gets before taking it over.
Fairbanks got her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law, after finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee. She started on the path to Executive Director when she went to work as an assistant public defender in Durham County in 2005. From 2008 to 2013 she was the Civil Defender Educator for the UNC School of Government, then spent three years as assistant legal counsel in the NCAOC’s Office of General Counsel before joining IDS in 2016 as Assistant Director and General Counsel.
As assistant director and general counsel, she helped lead statewide systems changes like the Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) program and worked with cross-functional teams of staff, public defenders, commissioners and other stakeholders.
“North Carolina’s indigent defense system is one of the most consequential public institutions in our state,” Fairbanks said. “The agency is on firm footing right now and my top priority is continuing the momentum established by recent advancements in the public defense system through public defender expansion and significant investments in the Private Assigned Counsel.”
Beyond that, she is focused on three things: the staffing challenges public defender offices are dealing with; counsel shortages in underserved communities, and making sure private assigned counsel are paid and supported adequately.
Fairbanks thanked the IDS Commission for its confidence and its commitment to public defense in North Carolina, along with IDS colleagues and the agency’s partners at the NCAOC, the judicial branch, and the General Assembly.
Fairbanks is originally from Southeast Tennessee. She lives in Chatham County with her husband and their two dogs and spends most of her free time with them. Outside work she enjoys reading science and historical fiction (anything set in the future or the past). She also follows college football closely.
Please join us in congratulating Whitney B. Fairbanks on her new role as IDS Executive Director.
I believe that Safeguarding Justice in the state of North Carolina is some of the most important work we can do. It was an absolute honor to do this work as Assistant Director, and it is going to be an honor to do this work as Executive Director. If you also believe in this mission, and if you are interested in joining what I consider the best team in state government, I encourage you to apply for the IDS Assistant Director position. ~ Whitney Fairbanks
Click Here for more information: https://nc.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com/NC_Careers/job/Durham-County-NC/IDS-Assistant-Director_JR-122212
Note: You must complete your application and submit all supporting materials by 11:59 p.m. on the night of Sept. 13.