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 are interacting with criminal law?
Is it possible you are not an expert on jury selection?
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 exemplifies the highest ideals of the profession.
A native of Cumberland County, Cindy graduated from South View High School before serving honorably in the United States Army and the Army Reserves. She earned her law degree from Campbell University and began her legal career in private practice, and then worked as a prosecutor with the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office for five years. In 2001, Cindy joined the Cumberland County Public Defender’s Office, and she was appointed Chief Public Defender in 2020. Read more
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 exemplifies the highest ideals of the profession.
Connie is a graduate of UNC Wilmington and UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. Following law school, Connie worked briefly in private practice before joining the District Attorney’s Office for New Hanover and Pender Counties. Over the course of her distinguished 29-year career with the District Attorney’s Office, Connie prosecuted a wide range of serious criminal matters, including homicides, armed robberies, sexual assaults, human trafficking, and child abuse cases. Read more
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 privilege. Many lawyers handle traffic matters because they are frequent and predictable, but there is a difference between handling these cases and handling them well. Excellence in traffic practice begins at intake. The purpose of this blog is to help all, but especially new attorneys who practice traffic law.
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, she interned as a clerk with the Durham County District Court Judges’ Justice is Blind Program, and Aaliyah gained valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of district court.
Aaliyah Lecompte
Aaliyah approached her clerkship with enthusiasm, though not without apprehension. As a rising 2L, Aaliyah was candid about her fears of litigation and even stepping into a courthouse. Clerking for the Durham County District Court Judges provided her with a meaningful opportunity to confront those fears directly. Aaliyah spent her summer observing different district court proceedings, conducting legal research, and analyzing statutes. One of her most memorable experiences was the chance for Aaliyah and her fellow clerk to deliver a closing argument in an old DWI case before the District Court Judges and local attorneys. Aaliyah found this experience frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Confronting her fears was extremely rewarding for Aaliyah, and she received positive feedback about her performance.
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 Special Counsel and a judicial externship with the Honorable Joe L. Webster, United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Aleah Wordsworth
This summer, Aleah interned with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina (FPDEDNC). There, she conducted legal research and analysis on a range of federal criminal law topics, such as the United States Sentencing Guidelines and evidentiary issues. She also drafted memoranda and motions that were filed in federal court. Aleah’s most meaningful project was contributing to a sentencing memorandum where she argued for a downward variance from the advisory sentencing guidelines under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Knowing that her work could help secure a fairer outcome for a client made the experience deeply impactful. Read more
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 the post spotlighting Liz Sharpe, a 2L at Campbell Law School, and her summer internship experience at the North Carolina Department of Justice. Stay tuned for our next post spotlighting Aleah Wordsworth, a 3L at the University of North Carolina School of Law.
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 degree from Meredith College, Liz began her career at the North Carolina General Assembly as a Legislative Assistant, where she worked on public policy and constituent services. The experience not only deepened her understanding of how law and governance intersect but also showed her firsthand how fair and effective government can improve the lives of everyday citizens.
Elizabeth Sharpe
Motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact in her community, Liz spent the summer of 2025 interning at the North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) in the Special Litigation Section. There, she conducted legal research across a range of complex issues and contributed to drafting a section of a criminal appellate brief — a project she calls one of her most meaningful experiences. Her supervising attorneys encouraged her to take ownership of the argument’s development and structure and to think critically, helping her strengthen her legal writing and analytical skills while exploring new areas of law.
Liz found her experience at the NCDOJ deeply rewarding. Working alongside talented and experienced attorneys who dedicate their careers to public service reinforced her own commitment to pursuing justice through the law. As the first in her family to enter the legal profession, Liz valued the opportunity to learn from dedicated public servants and gain insight into meaningful legal careers in government. Her internship further solidified her goal of working in public service, and she encourages other law students interested in this path to seek out similar opportunities—especially at the NCDOJ.
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. This experience not only solidified my commitment to a career in public service law but also deepened my understanding of the challenges and rewards of advocating for those who are often voiceless.
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 truth and justice. This is the type of role that I believe is only possible in a public-sector position, where an agency like the Commission can operate on their charge without financial motives.
One of main responsibilities I had during my internship was assisting in the evaluation of innocence claims. This process is far more intricate and demanding than I initially imagined. Each claim requires a thorough, objective analysis that often involves sifting through mountains of documentation. When a new claim comes in, we would start by reviewing the initial application. This document provides an overview of the case and the basis for the innocence claim. From there, we dive into the case files, which include trial transcripts, police reports, forensic analyses, and any post-conviction filings.
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