Today marks the 61st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court landmark case of Gideon v. Wainwright. (See the Facts and Case Summary from
IDS welcomes Senior Research Associate
The Office of Indigent Defense Services is pleased to announce Joseph B. Oder has joined the IDS team as Senior Research Associate. His first day was
Joshua W. Willey, Jr. is sworn in as the new Chief Public Defender for Defender District 4, covering Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties
On the morning of March 1, 2024, Joshua W. “Josh” Willey, Jr. was sworn in by The Honorable Chief District Court Judge Walter Mills of the 4th
FREE webinar on being inclusive and welcoming to persons with disabilities in the legal system
In the United States, disabled individuals are over-represented as both victims of crime and as those accused of crimes compared with their
Join us in February for the 2024 IDS Forensic Science Education Series
For a fourth, full consecutive year, IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office are offering free, regular continuing education to criminal
IDS holds ‘onboarding’ for historic public defender expansion
North Carolina to open public defender offices in eight judicial districts, to help improve the delivery of public defense in 22 additional
Niccoya Dobson to serve new Defender District 5 covering Duplin, Jones and Sampson counties
Niccoya ‘Nicky’ Dobson was appointed as the Inaugural Chief Public Defender to the newly created Defender District 5 serving Duplin, Jones, and
Tonza D. Ruffin to serve as the first Chief Public Defender for the new Defender District 7
Tonza D. Ruffin was sworn in as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new Defender District 7 on Monday, January 1, at the Northampton County
Randolph Marshall Lee is sworn in as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for Union County
Randolph Marshall Lee was sworn in on January 2, 2024, as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new 30th Defender District. The Honorable
Defender District 42 gains client advocate position
“When people are charged with crimes, there’s so much more to them than just their crime. They need help with other things, and you have to look
Janna Allison is sworn in as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new 43rd Defender District
Janna Allison was sworn in on January 2, 2024, as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new 43rd Defender District. The oath of office was
First social worker to serve in a PD office retires
With a total of 44 loyal years of state service behind her, the first social worker ever to serve in a public defender office in North Carolina
Jacob Ward is sworn in as the inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new 15th Defender District covering Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties
On the morning of November 9, 2023, Jacob Ward was sworn in by The Honorable Judge Jason Disbrow of the 15th Superior Court District. Ward took the
Ricky Champion is sworn in as the Inaugural Chief Public Defender for the new 17th Defender District, covering Alamance County
On the morning of December 1, 2023, Ricky W. Champion was sworn in by The Honorable Judge D. Thomas Lambeth, Jr., as the first Chief Public Defender
Jennifer Rierson is sworn in as Chief Public Defender for the new 24th Defender District (formerly 18th), covering Guilford County
On the morning of December 1, 2023, Jennifer Rierson was sworn in as Chief Public Defender for the new 24th Defender District (formerly 18th), by the
The George H. White Bar Association honors Dawn Baxton
IDS wishes to acknowledge that Dawn Baxton, the Chief Public Defender for Defender District 14, was one of two distinguished honorees at this year’s
Don’t miss the 2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar
Registration is still open for the 2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar, hosted by the UNC School of Government. The webinar will be held on Friday,
IDS provides updates around the Launch of the NCFS
The new statewide accounting system (NCFS) went live across the entire state, on October 10, 2023. The launch went relatively well, overall.
Commission on IDS honors Joseph L. Ross II with the 2023 ‘Ruby’ Award
“For extraordinary contributions to indigent defense training programs in North Carolina,” The 2023 recipient of the Professor John Rubin Award is
Commission on IDS to meet October 20, 2023
The Commission on IDS will meet in-person on October 20, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, 901
Important Message for all Private Assigned Counsel, Contract Attorneys, and Experts!
On October 10, 2023, North Carolina state government will launch a new financial system. In advance of our transition to the new system (NCFS),
Changes to Fee Apps and Guidance for Using Fee Apps for Payment in eCourts Counties
These updates apply to all attorneys across the state who do indigent defense work; including Private Assigned Counsel (PAC), Managed Assigned Counsel
Webinar: Law Enforcement Use of Digital Evidence
Live webinar presented by Spencer McInvailleNovember 2, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit (technology hour) anticipated Do you know what FLOCK,
NCFS goes live October 10; Action Required for Employees who use FIORI
The new state accounting system goes live next month! Here’s what staff (whose salaries are paid by the State) should do: To ensure all your