All Things Judicial

In this special episode, Pitt County Chief District Court Judge Galen Braddy shares his deep-rooted passion for turkey hunting and turkey calling, and how the discipline, patience, and focus it requires mirror the skills he brings to the courtroom.

Judge Braddy, who has served on the bench for over 25 years, offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at his life outside the courtroom, and treats us to a demonstration of a variety of ...

In this episode,  we feature a wide-ranging conversation with Amanda Lamb, a veteran journalist, true crime author, and podcast host with more than 30 years of experience covering courts and criminal justice in North Carolina.

Best known for her long tenure as a crime reporter for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, Lamb has built a career around telling powerful stories from inside the courtroom. Her reporting has covered some of the state's ...

In this episode, we spotlight the civil wedding ceremonies conducted by North Carolina magistrates. We offer both a behind-the-scenes look at the process of getting married at a courthouse and a touching glimpse into a real wedding held at the Wake County Justice Center.

In the first segment, host Chris Mears interviews Wake County Chief Magistrate Christopher Graves, who shares insight into the role magistrates play in officiating ...

This episode features a compelling conversation with Kendall Kendrick, Executive Director of the Charlotte Trail of History and the Charlotte Liberty Walk, as well as remarks from Chief Justice Paul Newby delivered at the May 20th anniversary ceremony in Charlotte.

In the episode, Kendrick offers unique historical insight into the events of May 1775 and her personal connection as a descendant of the Alexander family—key figures asso...

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of safe, supportive environments for all children. In this episode, we spotlight the NC Guardian ad Litem Program and its vital role in advocating for children involved in the state’s foster care system.

The episode features conversations with three leaders from the Guardian ad Litem Program:

• Carolyn Green, Regional Admini...

This episode provides an in-depth look at significant developments in the North Carolina Judicial Branch for the month of April. This episode covers:

• The 2023-2024 Judicial Branch Annual Report
• Chief Justice Paul Newby visits Columbus County
• eCourts Track 8 goes live on April 28
• Most recent judicial appointments
• NC Human Trafficking Commission is accepting grant applications
• Preview of the next All Things Judicial–Beyond the Bench ep...

In this episode, we celebrate a major milestone: the 30th anniversary of the Mecklenburg County Recovery Court.

Since its founding, the Recovery Court has been a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with addiction, providing an alternative path that blends accountability with support. This episode highlights the program’s lasting impact through the perspectives of Jessica Modra, Program Manager for the Supportive Treatment and ...

News items covered in this episode of In Focus include:

• Attorney training for eCourts Track 8 and eCourts expansion
• Task Force on ACE's Courts Plans More Progress in 2025 
• Case Statistics Dashboard is available to the public at data.nccourts.gov 
• March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month 
• DWI grant from Governor's Highway Safety Commission to expand case capacity
• Preview of the next episode of Beyond the Bench focusing on ...

In this episode of All Things Judicial: Beyond the Bench, we take listeners beyond the courtroom and into the heart of disaster recovery, featuring a compelling conversation with North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Michael Stading and law clerks Vincenzo Conciatori and Tomas Nazer-Paniagua.

These legal professionals stepped away from their usual roles in the judiciary to volunteer in Western North Carolina following the devastatio...

In this episode, we feature the second installment of a truly extraordinary roundtable discussion with nine former NCAOC directors. The discussion was moderated by former director Judge Marion Warren and included: Judge Gerald Arnold, Judge Jack Cozort, Mr. Jim Drennan, Justice Franklin Freeman, Judge Robert Hobgood, Judge Tom Ross, Judge John Smith, and Judge Ralph Walker. The directors discussed NCAOC's changes throughout th...

In this episode, we feature the first installment of a truly extraordinary roundtable discussion with nine  former NCAOC directors. The discussion was moderated by former director Judge Marion Warren and included: Judge Gerald Arnold, Judge Jack Cozort, Mr. Jim Drennan, Justice Franklin Freeman, Judge Robert Hobgood, Judge Tom Ross, Judge John Smith, and Judge Ralph Walker. The directors began by discussing how they received the &q...

In this episode, we feature an excerpt of an interview with Charlotte Attorney Joseph W. Grier, Jr. (1915-2010). Grier was interviewed in 2003 for the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism's Historical Video Series. Grier led an epic career as a Charlotte attorney for more than 60 years after volunteering for the U.S. Army during WWII. In the podcast, he discusses his early life, highlights of his career, and his ...

In this episode, we feature our annual Halloween episode entitled Fright Court. In the first segment,  we feature Nelson Nauss, the Executive Director of The Ghost Guild, a North Carolina-based paranormal research organization. Nauss shares four court cases involving claims of the supernatural, where the courts didn’t necessarily rule-out the paranormal elements of each lawsuit. In the second segment, Roger Winstead of the Judicial...

In this episode, we welcome Pitt County District Court Judge Mario Perez. Judge Perez is the first Hispanic judge in Pitt County and possibly the first Mexican-American judge in North Carolina. On the podcast, he discussed his upbringing in Texas, the challenges he faced as a Mexican-American, and his favorite Hispanic heritage traditions. Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized September 15 – October 15.

Judge Mario E. Pere...

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 Ph...