All Episodes

30 mins S #1 Mar 18, 16

S01 Episode 01: Mary Ann Tally & Shea Denning on Distracted Driving

Professor John Rubin interviews Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Tally. Judge Tally was one of the first public defenders in the state and had a long career with indigent defense before taking the bench. Then, Shea Denning gives answers questions about the law of distracted driving like, can you text while [...]

2 mins S #1 Jun 29, 16

S01 Episode 00: Beyond the Bench is now in session

The UNC School of Government is excited to bring you "Beyond the Bench," a podcast featuring interviews with people in and around the court system. We'll be broadcasting episodes biweekly, so please listen in and tell us what you think. You can reach producer, Danielle Rivenbark at daniellp@sog.unc.edu.

2 mins S #1 Jun 29, 16

S01 Episode 00: Beyond the Bench is now in session

The UNC School of Government is excited to bring you “Beyond the Bench,” a podcast featuring interviews with people in and around the court system. We’ll be broadcasting episodes biweekly, so please listen in and tell us what you think. You can reach producer, Danielle Rivenbark at daniellp@sog.unc.edu.

28 mins S #1 Jul 01, 16

S01 Episode 03: Carl Fox

This week we talk to Judge Carl Fox about his path to If you like what you hear please rate us in your podcast app! If you have questions or topics for the show please email producer Danielle Rivenbark at daniellp@sog.unc.edu.

34 mins S #1 Jul 01, 16

S01 Episode 05: Anne Precythe

This concludes Season 1 of Beyond the Bench. We’re working hard on Season 2 and will be bringing those to you in the coming weeks.  If you like what you hear please rate us in your podcast app! If you have questions or topics for the show please email producer Danielle Rivenbark [...]

36 mins S #1 Jul 01, 16

S01 Episode 04: DWI

If you like what you hear please rate us in your podcast app! If you have questions or topics for the show please email producer Danielle Rivenbark at daniellp@sog.unc.edu.

30 mins S #1 Jul 06, 16

S01 Episode 01: Mary Ann Tally on the Court System and Shea Denning on Distracted Driving

Faculty member John Rubin interviews North Carolina Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Tally. Tally was one of the first public defenders in the state and had a long career in indigent defense before taking the bench. Next, faculty member Shea Denning answers questions about the law of distracted driving, such as, [...]

24 mins S #1 Jul 25, 16

S01 Episode 02: Chris McLaughlin on Social Media for Judges and Lawyers and Frayda Bluestein on Body Cameras and Public Records

First, we talk with faculty member Chris McLaughlin and learn about the ethics rules that limit how lawyers and judges use social media. Next, faculty member Frayda Bluestein answers the question: do recordings made by body cameras worn by law enforcement officers qualify as public record under North Carolina law? [...]

28 mins S #1 Aug 08, 16

S01 Episode 03: Judge Carl Fox

In this episode we talk with North Carolina Superior Court Judge Carl Fox. Before becoming a judge, Fox was the first African American district attorney in the state. We talk about his life, work, and views about current criminal justice issues. If you like what you hear, please rate us [...]

36 mins S #1 Aug 22, 16

S01 Episode 04: Shea Denning on DWI and Jamie Markham on Absconding from Probation

Faculty member Shea Denning explores the procedures and punishments associated with impaired driving and ponders their effectiveness in addressing the DWI problem. In the second segment, host Jeff Welty talks with colleague Jamie Markham about the concept of absconding from probation. If you like what you hear, please rate us [...]

34 mins S #1 Sep 06, 16

S01 Episode 05: Anne Precythe on Community Corrections

During the final episode of Season 1, faculty member Jamie Markham interviews the North Carolina Director of Community Corrections Anne Precythe. She talks about what is was like when she first started working in the area of probation, how it has changed, and what it looks like today. If you [...]

3 mins S #1 Oct 31, 16

S02 Episode 00: Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond the Bench

Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond the Bench, a podcast by the NC Judicial College at the UNC School of Government. Season 2 tells the story of homelessness, neglect and the child welfare system in NC. During this Season, we’ll talk about what family homeless looks like, whether homelessness is [...]

30 mins S #1 Nov 04, 16

S02 Episode 01: Without a Home

In today’s episode, through interviews with homeless shelter providers and district court judges, we’ll talk about what homelessness looks like, whether it’s neglect and whether you need to make a report to county department.  

32 mins S #1 Nov 18, 16

Season 02 Episode 02: The System Responds

In today’s episode, through interviews with county department social workers and attorney, the state Guardian ad litem program, a parent attorney, and district court judges, we’ll discuss how the county department responds to a report of suspected neglect and when court action is needed. This area of the law has its [...]

25 mins S #1 Dec 02, 16

Season 02, Episode 03: The Trial: Adjudicating Neglect

In this episode, through interviews with district court judges, a county department of social services attorney and a parent attorney, we will talk about the hearing where the court decides if the child is neglected and what happens afterwards.

37 mins S #1 Dec 15, 16

Season 02, Episode 04: The Case Plan – In and Out of Court

At the end of our last episode, one of our two cases ended when the court dismissed it after concluding the child was not neglected. But in our other case, the case where the children were living with their parents in a van in the woods without adequate shelter, food, [...]

41 mins S #1 Jan 12, 17

The Child’s Voice in Court: The Role of the Guardian ad Litem

We’re back with Episode 5, “The Child’s Voice in Court: The Role of the Guardian ad Litem,” for our Beyond the Bench Season 2 podcast. In this episode, we take a break from our court cases to focus on the child. Find out how the child’s perspective is represented in [...]

32 mins S2 #6 Jan 26, 17

Season 02, Episode 06: Obtaining Permanency

In this last episode, you’ll learn about permanent outcomes for the family and child, with a discussion of two opposite outcomes: a child’s reunification with his/her parents and the child’s adoption after a termination of parental rights. Find out what happens in our remaining court case!