All Things Judicial

In this episode, we focus on the North Carolina judicial system reforms of the 1960s. These reforms created a unified court system that included newly created District Courts, Court of Appeals, and the Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC). In the interview, former NCAOC Director and Supreme Court of North Carolina Associate Justice Franklin Freeman interviews two men who helped implement these reforms: Judge James Dickson Phillips, Jr. and Senator Lindsay C. Warren, Jr.

"The effect of the implementation of the District Court was to abolish all of the courts beneath the Superior Courts – county courts, city courts, and the justice of the peace system," said Warren on the podcast. "The worst thing about the justice of the peace system was that their compensation came from fees they assessed, but in a criminal case they could not assess a fee unless a defendant was convicted."

This 2012 interview is part of CJCP's historical video series. A video of this interview can be viewed on the Judicial Branch YouTube Channel.

Today, we commemorate Constitution Day, recognized annually on September 17. In the first segment, we hear from Chief Justice Paul Newby who shares about the important principles contained in America's founding documents. After that, we travel to the Historic 1767 Chowan County Courthouse to visit with Charles Boyette, who serves as a Historic Interpreter for the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources' Historic Edenton State Historic Site. Boyette explains what NC courts were like during America's founding era, and identifies the historical figures who frequented that courthouse then went on to contribute to America's founding documents: Joseph Hewes, signer of the Declaration of Independence; James Iredell, an original member of the US Supreme Court; and Hugh Williamson, signer of the US Constitution.

"We are so grateful for the foundational structure of our constitution that takes governmental power and divides it up among the three branches," said Newby on the podcast. "What are those branches? We have the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, then we have the Judicial Branch whose charge is to do justice for all."

Constitution Day is a federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the US Constitution. It is observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.

In this episode, we feature an interview with former Chief Justice Burley Mitchell. Mitchell worked in several county and state government leadership positions before serving as a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, as associate justice of the the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. During his tenure as Chief Justice, Mitchell created the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism (CJCP) with the mission to enhance professionalism among North Carolina lawyers.

In this 2006 interview conducted by former CJCP Executive Director Mel Wright, Mitchell reflects on his career's most notable cases, dispenses advice on handling unprofessional lawyers, and explains why professionalism in the legal field is of utmost importance.

"Dean Pound at Harvard Law School wrote 'our profession is not just a job, it's a calling,' and it's a calling whereby a person serves humanity and only coincidentally makes a pretty good living," said Mitchell on the podcast. "If (making a good living) is our focus, we will lose what sets us apart and that has always been the aspect of public service."

This interview is part of CJCP's historical video series. A video of this interview can be viewed on the Judicial Branch YouTube Channel.

In this episode, we welcome Chief Judge Chris Dillon of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. As North Carolina's intermediate appellate court, the Court of Appeals reviews proceedings that occur in trial courts for errors of law or legal procedure. On the podcast, Dillon discusses his path to becoming a Court of Appeals judge, the role of the Court of Appeals in our court system, and the importance of mentorship and civil education for students, young lawyers, and the general public.  

"I had been at the Court for four months and remember a student at UNC called and asked to be my intern, and I really wasn't that familiar with the role or that judges had interns," Dillon said on the podcast. "The intern came over and I discovered what I really love about this job was that you get the chance to mentor. Interns come to the Court of Appeals to learn and be mentored and I love that."

Chief Judge Chris Dillon was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, the youngest of five children. He received both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following law school, Judge Dillon practiced law at Young Moore Henderson and was licensed by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission as a broker. In addition, he has taught various real estate focused courses at both UNC School of Law and Campbell School of Law as an adjunct professor. Judge Dillon was elected to an eight-year term on the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2012, and was appointed as Chief Judge on January 1, 2024.  

This interview was conducted by Judicial Branch Communications Office Summer Intern Sophie Strach.

In this episode, we feature excerpts from an interview with Russell M. Robinson II, the founding partner of the Robinson Bradshaw law firm. Robinson was born in Charlotte, NC, in 1932 and attended Princeton University for most of his undergraduate years. He then earned his Juris Doctor from the Duke University School of Law. Robinson is the author of Robinson on North Carolina Corporation Law, a publication providing coverage of the business corporation, limited liability company, and nonprofit corporation statutes in North Carolina. 

In the interview, Robinson shares the 5-year journey of writing the first edition of his book, how he and his partners started their law firm, and his opinions on how the practice of law has changed over the years.    

"The practice of law has fundamentally changed and not for the better," Robinson said on the podcast. "More and more lawyers take-on their clients' position and lose their independence to be able to examine that position because it becomes their position too. That's an undermining of professionalism that I think is really regrettable." 

This interview was conducted in 2018 by John R. Wester of the Robinson Bradshaw law firm for the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism's Historical Video Series. A full version of the interview can be found on the NCcourts Youtube Channel.

In this episode, we welcome the Honorable Louis A. Bledsoe, III, the Chief Judge of the North Carolina Business Court. On the podcast, Bledsoe shares about his path to becoming an attorney and judge, the role of the Business Court and how it functions, and he reflects on the joys and challenges in today's legal community. 

“My favorite part (of being a judge) has been, whether through the case management process or through judicial resolution, to help the parties find their way to a resolution of the dispute that they have,” said Bledsoe on the podcast. 

The North Carolina Business Court is a specialized forum of the superior court division. Cases involving complex and significant issues of corporate and commercial law in our state are designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina as complex business cases for assignment to a Business Court judge who oversees resolution of all matters in the case through trial. Established in 1996, the Business Court has locations in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem.

The Honorable Louis A. Bledsoe, III presides as Chief Judge of the North Carolina Business Court with chambers located at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Charlotte. He has served as a Business Court judge since July 1, 2014 and as Chief Judge since July 1, 2018. He announced his retirement for January 2025.

In this episode, we feature excerpts from a 2004 interview with late Judge Robinson O. Everett (1928-2009), former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Armed Forces. Everett graduated from Harvard University at age 19 and was admitted into the North Carolina Bar Association by age 22. Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Everett was part of Duke Law School's faculty for over 50 years - founding the University's Center on Law Ethics and National Security. In the interview, Everett shares of the importance of mentorship, his family, and the many different facets of law as he traveled from North Carolina to Washington over the course of his more than 50-year career.   

"One of the nice things about being a lawyer is that you occasionally have opportunities to do something that will be very far-reaching," Everett said on the podcast. "Where you can hopefully bring about a result that will make things better for everyone." 

The interview was conducted by Hon. William A. Creech for the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism's Historical Video Series. A full version of the interview can be found on the NCcourts Youtube Channel.

On this episode, we welcome Rufus Edmisten who served as the deputy chief counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee (1973-74). The Committee's final report, released on June 27, 1974, was partly responsible for the resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974. On the podcast, Edmisten reflects on the high-profile nature of his work on the Committee, his relationship with Committee Chairman U.S. Senator Sam Ervin, and recounts the history-defining moment in which he personally delivered the subpoena to the White House for Nixon's secret Oval Office tapes.

"I knew it was going to be a big day, and when I got (to the White House) I read the subpoena title but then did a little impish thing too," said Edmisten on the podcast. "I had a little U.S. Constitution in my back pocket that Senator Ervin used to carry around, and something about my Boone upbringing said, 'whip that baby out on them.' So I pulled it out of my right back pocket and said, 'I heard you need one of these down here too.'"

Rufus L. Edmisten was born and raised in Boone, North Carolina, and earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law Center in Washington, DC. He served as North Carolina Secretary of State, North Carolina Attorney General, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1984. He is currently a lawyer in private practice.

The interview was conducted by North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts Communications Director Graham Wilson.

In this episode, we feature an excerpt of a 2004 interview with the late James D. Blount, Jr. (1927–2015), who worked as a prominent attorney in Rockingham and Wake counties. Blount's 50-year legal career included working as lead counsel in over 300 civil jury trials, and numerous stints serving as a volunteer in civic and community organizations. Originally from Wilson County, Blount served in the United States Navy before earning an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from UNC School of Law. In the interview, Blount shares about the importance of professionalism and the lessons learned from his lengthy legal career.

"One thing (I've learned) is that you may have a whole lot of clients but that client only has one lawyer," Blount said on the podcast. "He deserves to have his phone calls returned, questions answered, to be made to feel good about his case, and to be told the truth about it."

This interview was conducted by attorney Samuel G. Thompson for the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism's Historical Video Series. A full version of the interview can be found on the NCcourts Youtube channel.

In this episode, we profile Safe Babies Court, a new specialty court that aims to reduce the time a child spends in foster care before reaching a safe and permanent home. Guests include Chief District Court Judge J. Corpening, District Court Judge Rebecca Eggers-Gryder, Safe Babies Court State Director Polly Handrahan, and Safe Babies Court State Coordinator Kristin Stout. The panel discusses the need for Safe babies Court, how it works, and the impact the Court is already having in communities across the state.

"We are on the precipice of changing lives forever by changing a baby's life, changing a family's life, and making it less likely that the family will intersect with child welfare again," said Judge Corpening on the podcast. "That makes our communities healthier, better, and safer. This is really significant work."

North Carolina is engaged in a three-year pilot process that will begin implementation in Brunswick, Durham, Mitchell, New Hanover, and Yancey counties over the next year. The goal of Safe Babies Court is to improve the long-term well-being of children ages birth to three (or five in some areas), and their families, in the child welfare system. This program connects babies and their families with intensive support designed to promote healthy child development while working to ensure a safe exit from foster care as soon as possible. The process results in frequent court contact and family decision-making meetings for parents, the child's representatives or caretakers, and court personnel.