At its August 7 meeting, the IDS Commission voted for an across-the-board rate increase for private assigned counsel. The new rates are effective October 1, 2026. The rates are also posted online at https://www.ncids.org/counsel-rates/ under “Current Hourly Assigned Rates.” As noted above, the rate increase is across the board. Some highlights include: To raise rates […]

Her legacy was preserved with the presentation of the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s top award. In her wake, she leaves sweeping accomplishments and fresh opportunities for the Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) that will continue to impact the future of public defense for years to come. The lives she has touched (through six years […]

District 22 | Caswell and Rockingham Counties The 2026 Appropriations Act established a new public defender office for District 22. The new office must fill one legal assistant position and six APD positions. Click on the job titles below for more information or to apply: Assistant Public Defenders (6) Public Defender Legal Assistant (1)

The Office of Indigent Defense Services is seeking an Assistant Director to serve as a senior member of the IDS leadership team. The Assistant Director reports directly to the Executive Director and will provide critical support to the Executive Director’s statutory responsibilities across four areas: Commission governance and compliance, legislative reporting and coordination, the agency’s […]

Location: The NC Administrative Office of the Courts / NC Judicial Center – 901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607 – The Hickory Room (with the Oak Room reserved for overflow) Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please note that the Commission will begin the meeting in executive (closed) session. The public portion of the meeting […]

Following a thorough search and selection process, the IDS Commission has named Whitney B. Fairbanks as the next IDS executive director. This follows the announcement by current executive director, Mary Pollard, that she will retire this month. Fairbanks will serve a four-year term beginning August 10, 2026. As the Commission and the agency prepare for this […]