North Carolina to open public defender offices in eight judicial districts, to help improve the delivery of public defense in 22 additional counties
RALEIGH—The North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) held an orientation for seven of our state’s newest chief public defenders last week. The 2023 Appropriations Act called for standing up eight offices in 2024 and the IDS is working diligently to support the new chiefs at every turn as they set out to hire qualified staff, wind down their private practices, and make the transition from being “lawyers to leaders.”
A two-day onboarding culminated Friday afternoon in Raleigh at the North Carolina Judicial Center/North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Chiefs from seven of the eight new defender districts convened January 11 to hear from seasoned chiefs, the president of the North Carolina Association of Public Defenders, the AOC human resources team, the IDS fiscal team, UNC School of Government staff who partner with IDS for training, North Carolina’s five state defenders and more. (The eighth and final defender district to open this year is number 13, Johnston County, which is slated to open in July; a chief has yet to be appointed there.)
The new chief public defenders in attendance were: Randolph Lee (Defender District 30-Union County); Janna D. Allison (Defender District 43-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties); Seth Johnson (Defender District 32-Alexander and Iredell Counties); Tonza D. Ruffin (Defender District 7-Bertie, Northampton, Hertford and Halifax Counties); Jacob Ward (Defender District 15-Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus Counties); Niccoya Dobson (Defender District 5-Duplin, Jones and Sampson Counties); and Ricky Champion (Defender District 17-Alamance County).
On the first day of the new chief orientation, IDS Executive Director Mary Pollard reminded those in attendance that the NC Legislature supported expansion by authorizing the eight new offices, which will cover an additional 22 counties.
“Previously, it had taken 50 years to cover 38 of the 100 counties in North Carolina,” she said. “Over the next 18 months, it will expand from 38 counties to 60.”
“This is an exciting time for public defense,” she added. “We are making history, and we are so glad that you all (the new chief public defenders and IDS staff) are part of this important moment.”
Pollard also talked about the importance of having well-paid Private Assigned Counsel to complement the public defenders and discussed ways the chiefs can help support their local PAC.
Topics for the orientation included: IDS “101;” Being in more than one place at a time; district appointment plans, managing conflicts, recruitment and hiring tips, fiscal matters / budget operations, allotments, and salaries; legal matters; a segment on HR; training opportunities, statewide defenders and resource team, equipment and technology, conflicts reporting and more.
IDS is grateful to all public defenders and private assigned counsel who provide a vital service in their communities.