In August 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the Indigent Defense Services Act, which created the Office of Indigent Defense Services and charged it with overseeing and enhancing the provision of legal representation to indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel under North Carolina law. The School of Government collaborates with the Office of Indigent Defense Services to create quality, cost-effective indigent defense education, including innovative training programs, manuals, and online resources, to ensure that indigent defenders have the qualifications, training, and support they need to be effective.
UPCOMING TRAININGS
Defender Trial School: July 13-17, 2026
Juvenile Defender Conference: August 19, 2026
Higher-Level Felony Defense: September 8-10, 2026
Parent Attorney Conference: August 20, 2026
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:
New Podcast: Episode 26: NC Criminal Debrief Podcast hosted by Phil Dixon
New Podcast: Episode 25: NC Criminal Debrief Podcast hosted by Phil Dixon
New Blog Post: Case Summary – U.S. Supreme Court (June 18, 2026) by Phil Dixon
New Blog Post: N.C. Supreme Court Affirms Totality of Circumstances Test for Probable Cause in Marijuana Cases by Phil Dixon
New Blog Post: News Roundup by Phil Dixon
New Blog Post: Case Summaries: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (May 2026) by Phil Dixon
Faculty Coordinators
