Jessica Smith retires from School of Government

About

As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.

Browse by Role

The School provides
content and resources for a
wide array of local
government and judicial
officials in North Carolina.

Select your role to explore
all related content.

Browse by Topic

The School provides content
and resources on a wide array
of topics in local government
and judicial administration in
North Carolina.

Select a topic to explore all
related content.

Courses

The School of Government
offers up to 200 courses,
workshops, webinars, and
professional conferences
each year.

Publications

The School of Government
publishes essential books,
manuals, reports, articles,
bulletins, and other print and
online content related to state
and local government.

Blogs

Faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues.

Resources

The School of Government
offers information and
services related to a wide
range of topics relevant to
government and judicial
officials—in-person and on a
variety of platforms.

Blog Posts

Timely updates on emerging issues

Centers and Services

Specialized training/research hubs and consulting services

Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregated answers to common questions on a variety of topics

Knapp Library

Print and online materials and research expertise

Legal Summaries

Brief descriptions of legal cases, bills, or legislative activity

Listservs

Information exchanges for peers and faculty experts

Microsites

In-depth or aggregated content for local government and judicial officials

Tools and Apps

Online and mobile tools for employees on-the-go

Master of Public
Administration Program

The UNC MPA program prepares public service leaders. The program is offered in two formats: on-campus and online.

For more information, visit mpa.unc.edu

Giving

The School of Government depends on private and public support for fulfilling its mission. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the quality of government and civic participation in North Carolina.

Knapp Library

The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.

Jessica Smith retired from the School of Government faculty in April 2025 after 25 years of service to the University and the State of North Carolina.

Smith served most recently as the founder and director of the School’s Criminal Justice Innovation Lab. She has been responsible for some of the School’s flagship publications, like North Carolina Crimes and the digital bench book for Superior Court judges. Her opinion has been sought and valued by public officials in all three branches of state government.

Smith’s success is built upon her expertise in criminal law. She is especially knowledgeable about the Confrontation Clause, where her writing and teaching has been influential far beyond North Carolina. She is also a leading expert in the law of evidence, in plea negotiations, and in post-conviction procedure.

In 2006, she received the Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Term Professorship for Teaching Excellence. In 2013, she was named by the chancellor as a William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor, one of the University’s highest academic honors. She received the North Carolina attorney general’s Dogwood Award, the Amicus Curiae Award from the chief justice of North Carolina, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine—the highest award for state service—from the governor of North Carolina.

Smith dedicated significant time to service, participating in dozens of School and University committees. At the campus level, she served on the grievance committee and chaired the appointment, promotion, and tenure committee.

“Long before Jessie started the Lab, she earned distinction for her scholarship in the field of criminal law, for her dedication to the judicial officials of North Carolina, and for her commitment to advancing the academy in her field,” said School of Government Dean Aimee Wall. “Her work has made a lasting mark at the School and the University.”

The Criminal Justice Innovation Lab will continue supporting stakeholders with data and research in alignment with the School’s mission. Current Lab Assistant Director Maggie Bailey has been appointed as interim director.

“I see incredible potential to build on the work of the Lab to expand the way the School collects and shares data to support public officials,” said Wall. “Jessie’s legacy will be long lasting as we craft a School-wide approach to data-driven support for government.”

The School of Government thanks Smith for her dedicated service to clients, students, and the State of North Carolina and wishes her the best in retirement.