By W. Otis Walker IV Are you a criminal justice practitioner in state courts? How about in federal courts? Perhaps both? Do you have questions about how to manage the vast amounts of e-discovery that seem to come in more and more cases, including cellphone dumps? Are you curious about how recent immigration enforcement trends […]
By Stacey Rubain The Criminal Justice Section of the North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to announce that retired Cumberland County Chief Public Defender Cynthia Black has been selected to receive the 2026 Wade M. Smith Award (“Smith Award”). The Smith Award is presented annually by the Criminal Justice Section to a defense attorney who […]
By Stacey Rubain The Criminal Justice Section of the North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to announce that retired Assistant District Attorney Connie Jordan has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Peter S. Gilchrist III Award (“Gilchrist Award”). The Gilchrist Award is given annually by the Criminal Justice Section to a prosecutor who […]
By Tyler Chriscoe and Anastasia Tramontozzi Few attorneys enter law school dreaming of being traffic lawyers, yet traffic cases form a large portion of daily district court practice across North Carolina. Outcomes in traffic cases carry real consequences for clients, from impacting employment, to increased insurance costs, to long-term suspension or revocation of one’s driving […]
By Stacey Rubain Aaliyah LeCompte is a second-year law student at North Carolina Central University School of Law (“NCCU Law”). Her passion for serving others began even before entering law school. Aaliyah mentored children and also worked as a behavior technician, and these experiences strengthened her passion for helping people navigate challenging circumstances. This summer, […]
By Stacey Rubain Aleah Wordsworth is a third-year law student at the University of North Carolina School of Law. She is deeply committed to public service and dedicated to improving the lives of individuals from underserved and disadvantaged communities. Her passion for this work was strengthened through prior experiences with the North Carolina Office of […]
By Stacey Rubain Over the next coming weeks, the Criminal Justice Blog will feature several outstanding recipients of the NCBA’s 2025 Annual Summer Internship Scholarship. These spotlights will showcase law students passionate about careers in government, public service, and criminal justice, offering an inside look at their Summer 2025 internship experiences. We hope you enjoyed […]
By Stacey Rubain Elizabeth “Liz” Sharpe is a second-year law student at Campbell Law School in Raleigh. Liz has long believed in the power of government to make a difference. Her commitment to public service runs deep—it’s rooted in a lifelong desire to help others and strengthened by her early professional experiences. After earning her […]
By Tavaria Smith This summer, I had the privilege of working with North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services (NCPLS), an organization committed to providing legal assistance to incarcerated individuals in North Carolina. My internship offered me a front-row seat to the criminal justice system, from observing court proceedings to directly engaging with clients and their families. […]
By Shane Murphy Working as an intern at the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, I’ve had the unique opportunity to contribute to the critical work of investigating post-conviction claims of innocence. This experience has been both challenging and rewarding, offering insights into the complexities of the criminal justice system and the meticulous process of seeking […]