Whitney B. Fairbanks began work as the new Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) on August 10, 2026. She steps into the role after a decade as the agency’s Assistant Director and General Counsel, a run that gave her about as close a view of the system as anyone […]

A temporary glitch in the myworkdayjobs.com (State of NC) jobs application system may have prevented some applicants from successfully submitting their applications over the last few days. The issue was resolved. As a result, we have extended the application window for the IDS Assistant Director position to Sept. 14. Important Note Application windows in the […]

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 […]