Last Friday, on March 28, 2025, the North Carolina Office of the Juvenile Defender (OJD) hosted a hybrid Continuing Legal Education (CLE) training focused on handling first-degree murder cases involving juvenile defendants. It was held at the NC Administrative Office of the Court and ran from 8:50 AM to around 5:00 PM. The training provided juvenile defense attorneys with in-depth insights into the difficulties of representing minors charged with first-degree murder in North Carolina. Attendees benefited from expert-led sessions covering critical topics such as legal strategies, recent legislative updates, and best practices for advocating effectively for juvenile clients facing serious charges. This CLE training underscores OJD’s commitment to equipping defenders with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the unique challenges presented in juvenile murder cases. By fostering continuous professional development, OJD aims to ensure that all juvenile defendants receive competent and compassionate legal representation.
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The presenters for this CLE were:
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Burcu Hensley, Assistant Public Defender | Wake County Public Defender’s Office
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Terri Johnson, Assistant Juvenile Defender | NC Office of the Juvenile Defender
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Dr. Peter Kuhns, Director of Clinical Services | NC Depart. of Public Safety – Division of JJDP
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Robert Singagliese, Assistant Capital Defender Office of the Capital Defender
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Woodrena Baker, Chief Public Defender | Orange/Chatham County Public Defender’s Office
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Timothy Heinle, Albert and Gladys Coates Term Professor | School of Government, UNC Chapel Hill
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Dr. Sonja Frison, Behavioral Health Services Liaison-JDC/Youth with High Needs NC Depart. of Public Safety – Division of JJDP
We’d like to give each one of them a special shoutout for their dedication and commitment to juvenile justice! Thank you to everyone who attended in-person and virtual! We appreciate you!
If you missed it and will like to watch the recording and/or have access to the materials shared, send an email to Eric.J.Zogry@nccourts.org. I’ll encourage to check-out our training calendar and register for our upcoming virtual CLE on Friday, April 11 about Immigration Collateral Consequences for Youth.
⬇ UPCOMING TRAININGS ⬇
Immigration Collateral Consequences for Youth CLEApril 11, 2025, 1:00 – 2:15 PMWebexRegister Now