2025 OJD Wrap-Up

As 2025 closes, the Office of the Juvenile Defender would first like to thank all of the attorneys working to protect the rights of youth charged with crimes.  OJD endeavors to provide resources and support juvenile defenders all year, and we hope our efforts result in staunch advocacy for our clients!

Goings and comings:

Assistant Juvenile Defender Burcu Hensley left OJD at the beginning of this year to join the Wake County Public Defender Office.  We appreciate all of Burcu’s hard work and value-added additions to our office! 

Communications Specialist Nani Suarez left OJD this summer and we will very much miss her creativity and her efforts to rebrand OJD!

Yolanda Fair, who served as Project Attorney for our Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant (see more on that below), has joined OJD permanently as our newest Assistant Juvenile Defender!  We are thrilled that Yolanda will remain and bring her effort and advocacy to the boardroom and the courtroom.

Among our efforts: 

• Followed legislative changes throughout the session. 

• Provided defenders with updated resources, including a revised First Degree Murder and Secure Custody Quick Guides. 

• Hosted 11 virtual, and several in-person CLE trainings including topics such as: mental health, capacity to proceed, restorative justice, ethics,  and many others.  We also assisted the School of Government in their juvenile defense trainings, and our office was invited to present at more than 20 other trainings across the state.

• Kept youth defenders informed by posting our blogs throughout the year. 

• Travelled to several courts across North Carolina to observe and engage with defenders and court officials.

• Hosted Duke University School of Law Extern Danelia Hernandez-Gil who brought new energy and insight to the office.

• Received final approval from the IDS Commission to begin First-degree murder appointments in early 2026. 

  
  

New Specialists:

Congratulations to contractor Cole Phelps and Pitt County Assistant Public Defender Jovon Thompson for becoming North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization Specialists in Criminal Law-Juvenile Delinquency! 

As we enter the new year, we are filled with hope and purpose. We look forward to new opportunities to grow, innovate, and advocate for youth. Thank you again to all of the attorneys, stakeholders, allies and advocates working on behalf of youth.   From all of us at the Office of the Juvenile Defender, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous new year in 2026!

For upcoming trainings, visit: https://www.ncjuveniledefender.org/training-calendar