UNC School of Government and its Resources: Part III

This is the last post in the three part series highlighting the various resources available from the School of Government (“SOG”), and why the SOG can provide invaluable guidance for those researching North Carolina law.

The School of Government publishes a wide range of judicial materials that are designed to assist judicial officers, including district and appellate court judges, magistrates, clerks of court, guardians ad litem, law enforcement and corrections officers, and attorneys representing clients in both prosecution and defense. Materials produced for these public officials can explain courtroom processes for anyone appearing in court. Following are a few examples of resources the SOG puts out:

• North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions :  Pattern jury instructions are created and compiled by The Pattern Jury Instruction Committee, made up of trial judges assisted by the SOG and supported by the AOC. These sample jury instructions are organized by legal topic. New attorneys and students interning during the summers could find this resource very useful if asked to draft jury instructions for ongoing litigation.
• North Carolina Judicial College :  The SOG works in close collaboration with the NC Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) to provide training and continuing education to judges, magistrates, and clerks in a program referred to as the NC Judicial College. The topics covered in education sessions and in publications are far-reaching. A few examples include sentencing, judicial ethics and discretion, the law of contempt, and mental health disorders. This microsite may be a good place to start if you need information on a broad topic in judicial administration. Then as you narrow your research focus you can search for more specialized resources.

• Juvenile Law :  This microsite offers information about children who become subjects of juvenile court proceedings. You can find reports about recent relevant legislation and references to publications like Abuse, Neglect, Dependency, and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings in North Carolina . Some information on this microsite is duplicative of what is provided on the Judicial College site. However, you should remember that the SOG attorneys have specialized knowledge in particular areas of the law. Therefore, you would be best-served to identify the expert in your area of interest—like LaToya Powell , Cheryl Howell , and Sara DePasquale on juvenile law—and begin with materials published by these individuals.

• North Carolina Superior Court Judges’ Bench Book :  The “Bench Book” provides an overview of legal procedure for judges. Specifically, the resource offers guidance about civil and criminal procedure and rules of evidence. Attorneys can use the Bench Book to better prepare for litigation, and students on moot court teams or in trial advocacy classes may want to consult the resource for detailed explanations of rules.