Welcome to the December edition of Case Law Corner! This month’s post includes not only summaries of two recent delinquency cases, but also a special note from Assistant Appellate Defender David Andrews with tips on properly appealing cases. Read on for all the delicious details! In re: A.G.J. No. COA23-323 Rockingham County 21 November 2023 https://appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=2&pdf=42749 Summary of the Case : “Annie” admitted responsibility on two misdemeanors and dis

People would think this is the “mental health” era, suggesting the use of the term and the discussion around it is more of a trend than an actual crisis. Extremism exists and it’s part of human behavior, but we can’t obviate important topics that affect us in all life aspects. What has happened is, the stigma surrounding mental health has decreased and there are more accessible communications channels to share our experiences. Now everyone, including children and professional

Back in October, we heard this powerful quote at the Gault Center’s Youth Leadership Summit Conference. This quote resonated with me and so many of the defenders present, as we all wrote it down on our notepads. After reflecting on this quote, I’ve thought about the different ways we as defenders can help support youth directly in their community. How can we as defenders contribute to creating a community that provides services, programs, and has direct impact of the directio