Women’s History Month Spotlight: Tonza D. Ruffin
Last month, the United States celebrated the National Black History Month forcing attention to the contributions of African Americans to the country. To honor black leaders in our community and because we’re also celebrating Women’s History Month this March, OJD wanted to share more about Black Youth Defender Women in North Carolina. For this blog post, I was happy to speak with Tonza D. Ruffin and learn more about her personal and professional story.I came up with a few questions that helped me
From A Lawyer’s View: Juvenile Collateral Consequences and DMV
There are a host of criminal offenses that result in license revocation upon conviction. When a person is convicted of such a triggering offense, the clerk notifies DMV of the conviction. A juvenile adjudication is not, however, defined as a conviction in G.S. 20-4.01. Juvenile adjudications have many collateral consequences which have been discussed in prior blog posts. Consequences to a youth’s privilege to drive have received less attention. Perhaps because 16- and 17-year-old youths charg
Week in Review: February 13-17
Happy Friday! With NC having all this good weather, a long introduction before the pre-weekend read is unnecessary. Let’s get to it!Tip of the Week: How Do I Know the State Will be Seeking the Gang Enhancement Against My Juvenile?Under current law, there is no process for notice to the juvenile and the juvenile’s attorney that the state is seeking gang enhancement. As the juvenile’s attorney, you should consider the following: 1. Get a copy of the gang assessment from DJJ prior to adjudication2
Week in Review: February 6-10
Happy Friday! We have a lot to share this week and it’s almost time to clock out and enjoy some well-earned vacation, so let’s jump right in!From the Desk of Eric Zogry: On The Road – Promising PracticesIn an earlier blog, I discussed how OJD is on the road observing court and maybe learning a thing or two from the juvenile defenders we see. Here is a short list of great work that we’ve seen:· Meet with clients before court – in many cases we’ve seen that defenders have met with their clie
Week in Review: February 21-25
Happiest of Friday’s Readers! This week we want to close out Black History Month with our final Black History Month Spotlights. We are so grateful to everyone who participated this year and want to thank Candace Washington and Dawn Baxton for starting this month off. Anika Bailey is a 2017 graduate of Elon University School of Law and started working with juvenile clients at the same time joined the Guilford County Public Defender Office in 2019. She was only meant to fill in for the role but gr
Week in Review: February 14-18
Happy Friday! We started the week filled with celebrating love that somehow transitioned to stuffed with work and chocolates, how does that happen? Either way, OJD was busy in the office keeping the engine going and sharing knowledge along the way. Tip of the Week – Discovery The Juvenile Code has similar discovery rules to those followed in adult criminal court. Though Juvenile Court is in District Court, most jurisdictions understand that discovery transfer is a practice for both misdemeanors
Week in Review: February 7-11
Welcome to the weekend readers! It’s been a busy week in the office with some exciting announcements coming your way very soon. This week we have a Black History Month attorney spotlight, a fresh tip from Terri, and a CLE opportunity from the School of Government & IDS. Let’s get to it!Black History Month Spotlight: Candace WashingtonCandace Washington is an Assistant Appellate Defender with the Office of the Appellate Defender in Wake County, North Carolina. She is a 2017 graduate of Elon Unive
From A-Non Lawyer’s View: Once Upon a Time in My Black Experience
Many of you know me as the Communications and Office Manager for the Office of the Juvenile Defender and while I haven’t personally written a blog like this, I have always wanted to speak on what I have seen as a Black child and now adult working in the Juvenile Justice world. When you are of African descent, it is probably one of the first things you learn about yourself when you are old enough to recognize that you look entirely different from your schoolmates. At the same time, they are going
Week in Review: March 1-5
Happy March Readers! Can you believe we are 3 months into 2021 already? How is time flying so fast!? Well with each new month comes new opportunities and OJD is always here to help however we can. Let’s get you to your weekend with your Week in Review, Tip & some recaps! Appeals Tip of the Week: Courtesy of David Andrews, Office of the Appellate Defender Suppression motions and contested adjudicatory hearings – If the suppression motion is denied, object when the evidence is admitted at the adj
Week in Review: Feb 22-26
Happy Friday Readers! We’ve conquered the last week of February and ready to start new challenges on Monday, March 1, right? Right! A Monday and first of the month? Please! Just a little humor to get us going but as always, here’s to your week in review. Tip of the Week – Discovery The Juvenile Code has similar discovery rules to those followed in adult criminal court. Though Juvenile Court is in District Court, most jurisdictions understand that discovery transfer is a practice for both misd