This past summer, I interned with the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. I first learned about the Commission at a meeting of the Campbell Law Innocence Project, where Gregory Taylor was the guest speaker. Mr. Taylor was exonerated by the Commission’s three-judge panel after spending seventeen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Mr. Taylor’s case was immensely impactful, and I am grateful that he and his attorney came to speak at Campbell that day.

Months later, I saw that the Commission was looking for a summer intern. Because of my interest in investigations and post-conviction relief, I immediately knew this was how I wanted to spend my first summer as a law student. After sending in my application, I attended an interview before being offered the position. I began working at the Commission the week following final exams in May and finished my last week in July.

For those unfamiliar with the Commission, it is a neutral fact-finding state agency authorized by statute. The Commission’s staff of attorneys investigate post-conviction claims of innocence through extensive document review, independent laboratory testing, and by conducting interviews and depositions. While not every claim is sufficient for review, claims that satisfy the statutory requirements are referred for a hearing. The Commission itself consists of eight members whose roles in the community are designated by statute. Depending on the outcome of a Commission hearing, a claimant’s case is presented before a three-judge panel for final adjudication.

This year is a particularly special time to intern for the Commission since 2022 marks the 15th year of the statute’s creation. Since the Commission began operation in 2007, a total of 15 claimants have been exonerated.

My summer with the Commission was unique in that I did not advocate for clients but rather focused on maintaining neutrality in my research and writing. As the Commission is a neutral agency, its staff are engaged in a fact-finding mission that is not partial to either the claimant or the prosecutor. During my internship, I carefully reviewed hundreds of pages of trial transcripts and claimant documents to draft memoranda for the Commission’s staff of attorneys. Additionally, I identified key facts and presented possible avenues for further review.

Perhaps the most interesting part of my internship was spent traveling throughout the state to collect evidence and to interview a witness. As a native North Carolinian, I enjoyed visiting rural parts of the state that I had never seen before. Throughout these interactions, I learned the importance of communicating the Commission’s mission as well as how to problem-solve in the field.

With regard to evidence, I attended a presentation on DNA testing during the first week of my internship. This presentation was helpful when I later reviewed and summarized expert witness testimony. Additionally, I met with the Commission’s victim services coordinator, who explained the importance of being trauma-informed in this post-conviction process.

From investigative assignments to out-of-office excursions, working alongside the Commission’s staff of attorneys allowed me to gain real-world experience outside of the classroom. I am certain that I will rely on their advice and feedback as I enter my second year of law school.

Overall, my internship this summer opened my eyes to a unique and important part of our state’s justice system. I want to extend my thanks to the North Carolina Bar Association’s Government & Public Sector Section for awarding me this scholarship and the Commission’s staff for the opportunity to intern this summer. As someone deeply interested in returning to the public sector after law school, my experiences have left a lasting impact.

September 1, 2022/by GovernmentandPublicSector