In Focus – May News Update

Episode 124 – This episode provides in-depth news highlights for October 2026. This episode covers:NCAOC Named NC TECH Award FinalistJudicial AppointmentsNew Leadership for NC Clerks Constitution AnniversaryNew District 5AComplex Family Financial CourtFeature Interview – Fighting Court-Related Fraud

This episode provides an in-depth look at significant developments in the North Carolina Judicial Branch for the month of May. This episode covers:10 Millionth Electronic FilingJudicial Branch Partnership with the Library of North CarolinaNew Celebrate 250 Campaign InitiativeHalifax Accountability and Recovery Court Inaugural Graduation CeremonyJudicial AppointmentsSupreme Court Marshal Tom Bowman Retirement; New Supreme Court Marshal Ricky Parks Appointment

This episode provides an in-depth Year-In-Review of the North Carolina Judicial Branch for 2025. This episode covers:eCourts – A Historical MilestoneNew Case Statistics DashboardLeadership AppointmentsAwards and Innovation RecognitionStatewide Proclamations and Celebrations Key Takeaways from 2025

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, this episode features an interview with Swain County Magistrate Gilbert Breedlove, whose remarkable journey of service and cultural preservation bridges the worlds of law, language, and faith.Magistrate Breedlove serves in the North Carolina Judicial Branch and is also a language editor and Bible translator working with the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Ojibwe languages. His dedication to preserving and promoting indigenous languages requires a lifelong commitment to service, both in his professional role and in his personal calling.Before becoming a magistrate, Breedlove served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, worked as a deputy sheriff, and ministered as a pastor. In this All Things Judicial episode, he discusses how his experiences in public service and ministry have informed his work helping to translate the Bible from English into Choctaw—a project years in the making.“We try to do this in a slow and steady manner instead of trying to rush to get it done,” Breedlove shared in the interview. “With the Choctaw Bible and songbook, it took us 25 years to get it done. And that's a lot of time.”Photos: Close up of Native American Bible with English translation, Examples of Magistrate Breedlove's language editing projects, Magistrate Gilbert Breedlove holding two projects on which he worked as a language editor

This episode provides an in-depth look at significant developments in the North Carolina Judicial Branch for the month of September. This episode covers:Judicial AppointmentseCourts Expansion UpdateNorth Carolina Conference of Clerks of Superior Court's New OfficersChief Justice Newby Appoints New Chief Administrative Law Judge200th Anniversary of the Perquimans County Courthouse 

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 turkey calls. In addition, he shares how turkey hunting and calling trains him for his work in the courtroom, and allows him to recharge to do his best at the job he loves.   “No matter what's going on, like if you've heard a terrible domestic case where a family is in conflict, you can reboot in the outdoors,” said Braddy on the podcast. “Sometimes it doesn't matter if the turkey gobbles or not, you're just out there. That really brings me back to peace and helps me get away.”All Things Judicial: Beyond the Bench is part of an ongoing effort to humanize the judiciary and foster public understanding of the people who serve in North Carolina’s court system.See pictures of Judge Braddy's prize turkeys and the turkey calls he uses.

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 most high-profile and complex criminal trials. In the episode, she reflects on what it means to witness justice unfold firsthand and the responsibilities that come with bringing those stories to the public.In the interview, Lamb discusses the challenges of accurately reporting legal proceedings for a general audience, the ethical decisions reporters face inside the courtroom, and how access to judicial proceedings has changed with the rise of digital media and livestreaming. She also shares reflections on particularly memorable cases she covered and her transition from daily reporting to writing and podcasting.Outside of television, Lamb is the author of several acclaimed true crime books and the host of the investigative podcasts Follow the Truth, What Remains, and The Killing Month August 1978. In addition, she shares about her current podcast, AGELESS: Opening Doors with Amanda Lamb.

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 weddings. Magistrate Graves walks listeners through a general understanding of the process that couples can expect, and shares his personal experience officiating weddings at the courthouse."Wedding ceremonies present an excellent opportunity for magistrates to show-off their public service skills," said Graves on the podcast. "In Wake County, we take pride in doing everything possible to give the couple the very best experience on their special day."The episode's second segment transports listeners to the Wake County Justice Center, where the podcast team captures audio from a real wedding between Javier and Marielis, a couple who are native Spanish speakers. With assistance from an interpreter, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony that reflected both the dignity of the occasion and the importance of cultural and linguistic inclusion in the courts. Host Chris Mears also had the privilege of serving as a legal witness to the ceremony.All Things Judicial is the official podcast of the North Carolina Judicial Branch and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode provides an in-depth look at significant developments in the North Carolina Judicial Branch for the month of June. This episode covers:Judicial AppointmentsChief Justice Newby Declared Employee Appreciation WeekeCourts Expansion UpdateeCourts Guide & File MilestoneKiosk ExpansionPreview of next episode of Beyond the Bench

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 associated with the original declaration. She discusses the ongoing legacy of the Mecklenburg Declaration, its place in Revolutionary War history, and the continued efforts to tell Charlotte’s foundational stories through public history initiatives.Listeners will also hear highlights from Chief Justice Paul Newby’s speech at the 250th commemoration ceremony, where he reflects on the Declaration’s importance to North Carolina’s identity, civic heritage, and the broader American story of liberty."We do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, that we are and of right ought to be a sovereign and self-governing people under the power of God," said Newby, quoting the Mecklenburg Declaration, on the podcast. "Today, what do we celebrate when we celebrate the Meck Dec? We celebrate self government under the power of God."All Things Judicial: Beyond the Bench is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. For more information and to listen to the episode, visit NCcourts.gov.