IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office provide regular continuing education to dozens of NC criminal defense and parent attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists who attend the IDS Forensic Science Education Series. In 2026, we will offer monthly 90-minute webinars on various aspects of forensic evidence. These webinars will take place typically at 12:30 pm on …
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Working with Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender-diverse Clients
Live webinar presented by Brittany Bate, Ph.D. (she)June 4, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Criminal defense attorneys represent clients whose experiences are shaped by both neurodiversity and gender identity. Research and clinical observations suggest a higher incidence of transgender and nonbinary identity among neurodivergent individuals, creating important considerations for communication, client relationships, mitigation, …
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Great trial result from working with Expert Services Project
Attorneys handling complex cases know that expert insight can be the difference between a strong defense and a missed opportunity. Yet securing qualified forensic expertise quickly and efficiently can be a challenge. For Assistant Public Defenders and IDS Managed Assigned Counsel attorneys, the Expert Services Project helps bridge that gap by providing streamlined access to …
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CSFRE Webinar Series on DNA Evidence
Free webinar series offered by CSFRE
Forensic Book Club in July
The Forensic Book Club has selected its next read and we hope you’ll join us in reading and discussing it! Our next book will be Forensics and Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers. We’ll meet virtually to discuss on July 13 at 6 pm. Note that you may want to get the …
Understanding ADHD and Its Impact in Criminal Cases
Live webinar presented by Dr. Beata KrembuszewskiApr. 2, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated This session will present a clear, research-based understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its relevance across the lifespan of many clients in the criminal legal system. The session explores the core diagnostic features of ADHD—impulsivity, inattention, executive-function deficits, emotional regulation …
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Omnibus Tech Discovery List
From NACDL’s Fourth Amendment Center – One of the most challenging parts of litigating surveillance technology in criminal cases is identifying and getting access to appropriate discovery. Often, the types of technologies used in a case are opaque and cannot be identified, let alone challenged, until certain information is shared during discovery. Even if you …
CSFRE Webinar Series on Drug Related Deaths
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Network of Public Health Institute (NNPHI), and the Public Health Institute (PHI), announced a new no-cost webinar series focusing attention on drug-caused and drug-related deaths. This 10-part webinar series brings together medicolegal death investigators, forensic …
New Database Documents a Century of Court Decisions on Forensic Expert Evidence Testimony
This week, the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law announced the launch of a new public resource: the Forensic Expert Evidence Database, a searchable collection of court decisions addressing when and how forensic expert testimony is admitted in criminal cases. The database brings together reported decisions from courts across all fifty states …
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Probabilistic Genotyping: Interpreting Complex DNA Mixtures with STRmix CLE
Presented by Dr. Max Noureddine No cost to attend, 2 hours of CLE credit anticipated, in person only This program will take place in 3 locations in Western, Central, and Eastern North Carolina. The same information will be presented at each location, so you only need to attend one. About: This presentation will provide an …
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Webinar: Neurodivergence in Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Settings
Live webinar presented by Dr. Jerrod BrownFeb. 5, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit Neurodivergence describes a group of individuals with atypical patterns of brain functioning, including differences in cognition, sensory, and motor abilities. Conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia), and traumatic brain injuries often fall …
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Forensic Book Club
The Forensic Book Club has selected its next read and we hope you’ll join us in reading and discussing it! Our next book will be The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story. We’ll meet virtually to discuss on Mar. 30 at 6 pm. This book came out in 2025 and generated a …
Winter 2026 Cannabis Update
Originally posted on the North Carolina Criminal Law blog on Jan. 14, 2026 Not much has changed for cannabis law at the state level since my last post on the topic. I noted there that several defendants were seeking review before the North Carolina Supreme Court regarding the potential impact of legal hemp and the sight or …
Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science – REGISTRATION OPEN
Indigent Defense Services and the Duke Law Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility are pleased to announce the twelfth annual CLE, “Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science.” Whiskey 12 will take place on March 6, 2026 at Duke Law School. Forensic science experts and attorneys who have litigated cases involving complex scientific …
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Expert Witnesses in NC Criminal Cases
IDS has prepared Expert Witnesses in NC Criminal Cases to provide information for any professional considering serving as an expert witness in indigent criminal defense cases, as well as best practices for NC criminal defense attorneys working with expert witnesses. The guide contains information for experts about billing in IDS cases, deciding whether to accept a case, …