Voices of NCAJ

After wrongful conviction, exoneration brings freedom but not healing. Chris Mumma, Executive Director of the NC Center on Actual Innocence, joins host Amber Nimocks to discuss the unique challenges faced by those released after years of wrongful imprisonment. Inspired by Joseph Sledge, who took his own life five years after being exonerated following 37 years in prison, the center is creating the Joseph Sledge Houses of Healing—a first-of-its-kind transitional sanctuary where exonerees can decompress and begin healing with comprehensive support. The project, being built on Second Act Farm in rural Alamance County, aims to address the often-overlooked trauma of wrongful incarceration. Learn more about how you can support the center's new re-entry project at their website at www.nccai.org or at Second Act Farm. You can also follow the center on Facebook. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Chris Mumma Connect: LinkedIn 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [01:54] Center Origins: The NC Center on Actual Innocence was incorporated in June 2000, consolidating work that started at UNC and Duke to prevent duplication of efforts. [03:46] Personal Pivot: Chris left a finance career and initially planned to practice corporate law before her clerkship revealed systemic justice issues she wanted to address. [06:35] Successes: The center has achieved 12 complete exonerations, helped six others gain release, and participated in investigating 18 additional exonerations over more than two decades. [08:19] Psychological Wounds: Being wrongfully imprisoned creates a fundamentally different psychological experience than serving time for an actual crime, with the constant question of "why?" eroding mental health. [12:56] Joseph's Story: Joseph Sledge spent 37 years in prison for a double murder he didn't commit. After his exoneration, he struggled to adjust to a changed world, eventually taking his own life after five years of freedom. [15:39] Houses of Healing: In partnership with journalists Mandy Locke and Alex Granados of Second Act Farm, the center is building two small homes—one for exonerees to live in temporarily and another for family reunification and service providers. [21:41] How to Help: You can donate funds, purchase items from an Amazon gift list for the homes, or attend work days and the upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony in May. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on

From bartender to high school English teacher to senior claims counsel, Warren Savage’s winding career path brings valuable skills to his role at Lawyers Mutual. He sits down with host Amber Nimocks for a conversation about supporting small and solo practitioners, including lots of NCAJ members. Drawing from his insurance defense background, Warren offers a unique perspective on bridging divides between opposing counsel. He and colleagues from Lawyers Mutual will share insights during NCAJ’s Sidebar Social events at cities around the state this spring and summer. Click here to learn more. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Warren Savage Connect: LinkedIn 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [02:27] JV Coach to Claims Counsel: Warren jokes about his path from high school English teacher to legal claims counsel, saying he "didn't know what I wanted to be until I was 40." [04:35] Back Behind the Bar: Warren and his wife recently purchased House Creek Beverage Company, bringing his career full circle from his bartending days. [05:30] Teaching Skills Transfer: His background in teaching prepared Warren perfectly for his current role delivering CLEs to attorneys across the state. [07:49] Sidebar Socials: Warren enjoys participating in these events because they give him the opportunity to meet NCAJ members in-person and not in a crisis situation. [08:57] Solo Support Network: NCAJ members often come from small or solo firms without built-in mentorship, making Lawyers Mutual's support especially valuable. [11:02] Insurance Defense Beginnings: Despite initially declaring he'd never become an insurance defense lawyer, Warren's first position proved invaluable to his current work. [13:29] Bridge Builder: Having worked with both plaintiff and defense attorneys, Warren often serves as a peacemaker between opposing counsel. [16:22] Persistent Pitfalls: Despite technological advances, the most common issues remain timeless: statute of limitations problems and managing difficult clients. [19:50] Proactive Networking: Warren highlights the importance of young attorneys reaching out proactively for mentorship, citing Lex-Jordan Ibegbu as an exemplary model. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it...

With February being CLE season at NCAJ, host Amber Nimocks welcomes Lauren Newton, an NCAJ leader who has helped develop popular CLEs, including the auto torts series. Lauren also discusses her involvement in other NCAJ initiatives, such as helping launch its Women’s Caucus. She describes serving as a delegate for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and – if all that’s not enough – acting as an avid Instagram poster outside of her law practice. Visit the NCAJ’s event calendar to learn about upcoming CLEs. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Lauren Newton Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [02:25] Amazing CLEs: Lauren reveals the secrets behind the NCAJ’s successful CLEs, including the virtual technology that broadens participation among trial lawyers. [08:12] Liens and Disbursements: For eight or nine years, Lauren has presented at this popular seminar that covers the “necessary evil” that all plaintiffs’ lawyers have to contend with. She’ll do so again this year, on Feb. 21. [08:49] The Women’s Caucus: Lauren recalls how she helped launch this NCAJ group shortly after she had her first child. She served as the chair for two years. [12:18] Secure Leave: The caucus spurred the codification of secured leave, a policy that protects lawyers who need to take off more than the previous standard of three weeks for childbirth or adoption. [15:53]: Women’s Caucus Retreat: It’s gotten bigger and bigger each year. It's different from other events because it transcends one practice area. This year, it will be held on March 13 and 14. [20:19] Find Her on Instagram: Lauren’s Instagram journey began when she decided to document all the “crazy decisions” she made while shepherding DIY projects at home. [28:33] AAJ Delegate: In addition to her work with NCAJ, Lauren is a delegate to the American Association for Justice (AAJ). She describes the group’s work ending forced arbitrations in the employment context. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers. Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent...

NCAJ President Kevin Bunn encourages attorneys to stay focused on advocating for vulnerable people and to resist any urge to check out because of frustration with the political climate. Bunn joins podcast host Amber Nimocks for a midterm chat. One of the first in his family to attend college, he reflects on how different his perspective and political beliefs might be but for attending UNC. He reminds listeners that, although people may have different perspectives, it doesn’t mean they can’t find common ground. NCAJ members are often the only ones advocating for clients facing down powerful institutions, and NCAJ has a legacy of fighting for fair laws and a level playing field, he says. “I think that’s what sets us apart.” 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Kevin Bunn | LinkedIn 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [09:31] All Lawmakers the Same? Background and education influence perspective, but that doesn’t mean that someone with a different view is a bad person. [10:54] A Unique Role: All lawyers are sworn to uphold the Constitution regardless of the type of law they practice. [11:45] No Time to Check Out! Focus on your clients and on the people you represent. [14:03] NCAJ Membership on the Rise: It’s critical to find ways for members to come together in person. [15:12] The Anonymous Internet: People who know each other are kinder to each other.The anonymity of the internet tests that. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers. Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent injustice and promote fairness. Membership affords many benefits and we’re proud to offer discounts and opportunities thanks to our tremendous community of sponsors and partners. Join today!

The NCAJ is losing a longtime member, but North Carolinians are gaining a judge on January 1, 2025. Sean Cole is passionate about service, his two constituents – the public and the Constitution – and the law. Also about having a sense of humor. Sean visits host Amber Nimocks for a retrospective on the various turns his life has taken. Twenty-four years ago, he was invited to interview for a plaintiffs’ firm but needed a friend to dig his car out of a snow drift so he could make the appointment. This year, he received a call asking him to run for the bench at the same time he was mulling where the next road would take him. “I really like wearing robes to work,” he jokes. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Sean Cole, judge-elect for Judicial District 10C of the North Carolina 3rd Superior Court Division. 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [01:51] Interesting Tidbits: NCAJ’s member database has a treasure trove of information about Sean, such as his description of his meeting space: broad, open savannahs and mangrove swamps. [04:39] Encouragement and Inspiration: Sean celebrates the opportunities he enjoyed and relationships he built during his involvement with NCAJ. [08:56] Money: That’s Sean’s answer to a question that voters frequently asked him: What’s the biggest problem facing the judicial system? [14:56] Road to Damascus: Sean stepped away from defense to the plaintiff’s side after realizing that, if he did a good job on defense, someone who was hurt would either get less than they should or perhaps nothing at all. [25:21] Rules, Loopholes, Norms: Borrowing from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, Sean places the judge’s role in the context of these three concepts in government. [27:54] Access: As a judge, Sean can’t give legal advice, but he can – and plans to – make himself available to the community, for example, at meetings, civic groups, or speaking engagements. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers. Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent injustice and promote fairness. Membership affords many benefits and we’re proud to offer discounts and opportunities thanks to our tremendous community of sponsors and partners. Join today!

Fresh from profiling Ben Whitley for NCAJ’s flagship publication, Amber Nimocks invites him on the podcast so listeners can hear the story of this winning PI lawyer at Whitley Law Firm and familiar face on WRAL. From watching his father help clients as a child to launching his own career at the firm’s satellite office to honing his marketing skills before TV cameras, Ben reviews his career and highlights one constant: commitment to community. Click here to read Amber’s “Hero Profile” of Ben in Trial Briefs. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Ben Whitley Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram Whitley Law Firm on LinkedIn | Instagram | X | YouTube 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [02:26] Media Pioneer: Ben’s father, Bob, started advertising on television soon after the US Supreme Court allowed it. As Ben explains, his father’s technique was to approach the public like he was speaking to a jury. [08:32] Community Cares: The Whitley Law Firm highlights a different charity each month as part of its commitment to pro bono service. Learn more about this partnership with WRAL here. [15:35] UIM Stacking: Ben recently played an important role in persuading state legislators to change laws on uninsured motorist stacking and expand coverage limits. [15:51] Force for Change: In addition to being a member of NCAJ for two decades, Ben is actively involved in state politics to “make real changes for lives of North Carolinians.” [19:21] Earning His Wings: Ben grew up watching his father practice law, but before he received his law license, he got a different one: a pilot’s license. [24:51] Operation Airdrop: Ben is a member of this civilian air fleet that delivers supplies to needy communities when a hurricane or major disaster strikes. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or

Ian Mance has worked for almost 20 years on criminal and racial justice policy and litigation in North Carolina. His long-term projects include developing strategies for leveraging a database of law enforcement traffic stops in the state. Ian will offer a hands-on presentation about the database and its application in the courts at NCAJ’s upcoming Criminal Defense CLE. Twenty-five years ago, North Carolina was the first state to pass a law to create the database that logs enforcement patterns at traffic stops. Today, that database has information on 36 million stops. As Ian explains to host Amber Nimocks, the CLE will arm attorneys with strategies for using the data on behalf of clients with racial profiling claims. Click here to learn more and register for the NCAJ’s CLE on December 13, where Ian will present on “The Use of Traffic Stop Database in Litigating Criminal Cases.”  🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Ian Mance Connect: LinkedIn | Emancipate NC | Instagram | Facebook 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [02:17] What Traffic Stops Show: The state’s database can reveal selective enforcement, commonly known as racial profiling, at traffic stops. Lawyers can access the information online. [03:40] State v. Johnson: This was the first appellate case to consider the traffic stop data in a defense context. Ian will explain the case and its implications at the December 13 CLE. [06:33] Treasure Trove: The traffic stop database contains information including the reason for the stop, the race of the driver and passengers, and anything notable that occurred. [08:13] The Pattern: The database shows that Black drivers are about twice as likely to be stopped and about three to four times as likely to be searched – a pattern that has persisted over the years. [18:26] Proactive Policing: Ian encourages police to use the database before a defense lawyer does: “I’ll say, ‘You can use this website to proactively monitor your officers.’” [21:39] The Greensboro Phenomenon: After a New York Times’ expose on the city’s racialized pattern of making stops for non-moving, non-safety reasons, the city prohibited police from making those types of stops. The result was “unheard of,” Ian says. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking

Artemis Malekpour, a partner at Malekpour & Ball who specializes in strategic jury selection and solutions to case problems, previews the session she will lead at NCAJ’s November 7 CLE. The program will focus on evidence and pretrial motions, and attendees will participate in an interactive exercise on voir dire. In addition to laying out her CLE, Artemis joins host Amber Nimocks to share her insights on the importance of understanding jurors' perspectives and crafting trial themes based on their values. She highlights the need for attorneys to listen actively during voir dire, respect jurors' opinions, and create a connection with them. Learn more about the CLE at ncaj.com/events. 🎙️ Featured Guest 🎙️ Name: Artemis Malekpour at Malekpour & Ball Connect: Email | LinkedIn | Trial Guides 💡 Episode Highlights 💡 [02:06] Jury Selection in North Carolina: Lawyers have more time here than in other states. Artemis suggests using that time to establish rapport, credibility, and connection. [08:57] “Weird Path”: She thought she wanted to go into psychology. Then psychiatry. In grad school, Artemis became fascinated by a “guilty but mentally ill” bill related to a psychiatrist who was sued by UNC. [22:07] Showing Respect: Like all of us, jurors want to feel important, valued, and that they matter. Voir dire is the time to show that, Artemis believes. [25:20] Politics: You don’t want to bring politics into voir dire, but Artemis thinks it’s important to understand how it informs trial. [28:47] No Sitting Back and Watching: Attendees at Artemis’s interactive session during the November 7 CLE will be encouraged to participate as they deconstruct a voir dire. Connect with North Carolina Advocates for Justice ☑️ Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. ☑️ Subscribe to Voices of NCAJ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Voices of NCAJ features members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice talking about what it means to be a trial lawyer, what it takes to be great at the practice of law and how being a part of NCAJ enriches their lives and their careers. Members of NCAJ belong to a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of legal professionals dedicated to empowering a strong community of trial lawyers to protect people, prevent injustice and promote fairness. Membership affords many benefits and we’re proud to offer discounts and opportunities thanks to our tremendous community of sponsors and partners.