CHAPEL HILL—Chief Public Defenders and designated core/support staff recently participated in an engaging, in-person workshop on April 25-26 on the
IDS Communications Specialist Featured in New York Art Show
Photographs by IDS Communications Specialist Amanda Bunch will be on display in Brooklyn, New York from June 01-June 23, 2024, as part of Cardinal
Sharpe featured in ‘Lawyers’ Weekly’
Earlier this month, State Capital Defender Robert E. “Rob” Sharpe, Jr. was a featured profile in the May edition of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly.
Seth Johnson is the inaugural Chief Public Defender for District 32, covering Alexander and Iredell counties
On April 2, 2024, Seth J. Johnson was sworn in by the Honorable Joseph N. Crosswhite, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Judicial District
Commissioner Beeler is honored at the May 3 meeting of the IDS Commission
At the May 3 quarterly meeting of the IDS Commission, Commissioner Arthur “Art” Beeler was recognized by Chair Dorothy Hairston Mitchell for being one
Sightings from the 2024 Spring Public Defender Conference Opener
The 2024 Spring Public Defender Conference, held in Winston-Salem, was a great success. Several awards were presented on the first day as Indigent
defenderData Roll-Out: Important Dates
The information below only applies to MAC attorneys / IDS Contractors. May 3 – 17: Beta Testing. During this time experienced contractors and IDS
Sonia Colon joins IDS to serve as Budget Manager
The Office of Indigent Defense Services is pleased to announce Sonia Colon has joined the IDS team to serve as the Budget Manager. Her first day
IDS Commission to meet May 3
The IDS Commission will hold a quarterly meeting Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Whitted Building, 300 W. Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC. This is an in
State Juvenile Defender’s career milestone is celebrated—for the person and the practice
RALEIGH—Last month (February 2024), the State Juvenile Defender walked into a room full of family, friends, guests and colleagues—from the past and
Celebrating ‘Defender Day’ 2024
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