Monthly Attorney Orientation

For Lawyers who are New to Indigent Defense

Beginning August 1, IDS staff will provide orientation for new attorneys on the first Friday of each month from 1-2 p.m.

Topics will include a guided tour of the IDS website, information on training and CLE opportunities, access to wellness resources and more. You will also be able to connect with other defense attorneys for future collaboration!

Click HERE to sign up.

2026 IDS Forensic Science Education Series

IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office provide regular continuing education to dozens of NC criminal defense and parent attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists who attend the IDS Forensic Science Education Series.

In 2026, we will offer monthly 90-minute webinars on various aspects of forensic evidence. These webinars will take place typically at 12:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Click here to view the 2026 Schedule.

The first six sessions of 2026 will focus on understanding and advocating for neurodivergent clients.

Click HERE to sign up.

Events

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Today

  • Litigating Fair Cross Section Challenges (NC)

    “n essential component” of the right to an impartial jury is the “selection of a jury from a representative cross-section of the community.” Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 528 (1975). The right to a jury that is a fair cross-section of the community is a well-known concept for criminal defense attorneys. However, the legal and practical complexities […]

    Free

  • Roadmap to a Representative Jury (NC)

    Learn about jury diversity from national experts, local judicial officials, and practitioners. In this FREE comprehensive fair cross-section training we will cover some of the factors that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities, why diverse juries matter, how the fair cross section requirement differs from equal protection, as well as some model practices for improving jury diversity.

    Free

  • Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science and the Courtroom

    Live webinar presented by James Williams, Dr. Jeff Kukucka, and Emily Coward Aug. 4, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description: This program will examine several ways that race affects forensic evidence. Presenters will discuss the racist or colonial roots of some of the forensic sciences, how racism manifests in some current […]

    Free

  • Webinar: Cross-Examining Digital Forensic Experts

    2022 IDS Forensic Science Education Series Live webinar presented by Lars Daniel July 21, 2022, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated Description: This presentation will prepare attorneys to effectively cross-examine digital evidence experts. The presenter will provide recommendations about vetting experts, including information specific to the field of digital forensics. Using cross-examination scripts, […]

    Free

  • IDS Commission Meeting

    The IDS Commission will meet in person and via Zoom from 10:00pm to 3:00pm. The meeting will be livestreamed and available for replay on IDS’s YouTube channel, which can be found here. Meeting location: Office of the Forsyth County Public Defender, 102 W. Third Street, Winston-Salem, NC Meeting Materials and Agenda

  • Summer Webinar

    UNC School of Government 400 South Rd., Chapel Hill, United States