Public Defense Education
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Phil Dixon, Jr.
Profile
Phil Dixon primarily works with public defenders and defense lawyers.
He joined the School of Government in 2017. Previously, he worked as a defense lawyer in eastern North Carolina for over eight years. During that time, he represented criminal defendants and juveniles charged with all types of crimes at the trial level.
In 2023, he was named director of the School’s Public Defense Education group. In collaboration with Indigent Defense Services, he works to provide training and consultation to defenders and other court system actors, as well as to research and write on criminal law and related issues.
He earned a bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and law degree with highest honors from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Monica Yelverton
Profile
Monica Yelverton is responsible for managing the operations of the Public Defense Education group, including overseeing the delivery of current programs and services, supervising administrative support, budgeting, assessing the feasibility of new educational initiatives, and managing new revenue streams. She joined the School of Government in 2015 as continuing education coordinator for public defense education. Previously, she analyzed occupational employment statistics as a social/clinical research assistant at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Prior to that, she was a special assistant in the governor’s office and a research assistant at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Yelverton earned a bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, an MPA from North Carolina Central University, and a Doctor of Education degree from UNC-Wilmington.
Timothy Heinle
Profile
Timothy Heinle is an expert on North Carolina civil matters, including evidence; abuse, neglect, and dependency; incompetency and guardianship; and child support contempt proceedings. As a faculty member in the School's Public Defense Education program, his primary focus is on providing education and resources to civil defense attorneys, including parent attorneys and Chapter 35A guardian ad litem attorneys. In addition to his work with civil defenders, Heinle teaches other attorneys and judicial officials on matters of civil law.
Heinle was awarded with an Albert and Gladys Coates Term Professorship for 2025-2027. In 2022, he received the School's Performance Excellence Award for "collaborative, dedicated, and innovative efforts that advance the mission of the School of Government,” and the Margaret Taylor Writing Award for “outstanding writing that displays [a] clear and direct style,” for The First Seven Days as a Parent Defender.
Heinle joined the School in 2020. Previously, he spent a decade as a civil litigator at the trial and appellate levels in the areas he now focuses on at the School. Heinle earned a J.D. from New England Law in Boston, MA.
Areas of Expertise
Criminal law and procedure; public defender training; evidence; indigent defense; domestic violence; subpoenas
Profile
John Rubin is the Albert Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at the School of Government. He is an expert in criminal law and public defender education. Rubin joined the School (then the Institute of Government) in 1991.
Rubin has written several books, articles, and other resources on criminal law, including a book on The Law of Self-Defense in North Carolina and a guide to Relief from a Criminal Conviction, among other publications. He also created a seven-volume practice manual series on indigent defense. He regularly teaches and consults with judges, magistrates, prosecutors, public defenders, and other criminal justice officials.
In 2004, Rubin created the Public Defense Education program at the School, supported by contract revenue, grants, registration fees and sales, and fundraising. As director of the program, he oversaw the work of several lawyers and professional employees who develop and deliver a curriculum of annual training programs, a library of reference materials, online educational offerings, and consultation services. Rubin helped establish and continues as a consultant to the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services, the statewide agency responsible for overseeing and enhancing legal representation for indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel under North Carolina law.
In 2008, John was awarded a two-year distinguished professorship for faculty excellence. In 2012, he was named Albert Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government. He has served as the faculty director for UNC’s honors study abroad program in London, teaches an honors undergraduate seminar on criminal law and justice at UNC-Chapel Hill, and co-teaches a Burch Field Research Seminar on criminal justice and health policy during the summer in London. Before joining the School's faculty, Rubin practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, CA.
He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a J.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill.