School of Government
Podcasts
Podcasts
Elected Ed
Elected Ed covers important public policy issues encountered by local elected officials in their day-to-day roles leading and governing all across North Carolina.
Shows
NC Criminal Debrief
NC Criminal Debrief is a podcast hosted by UNC School of Government faculty member Phil Dixon on all things criminal law. The podcast primarily focuses on state criminal law developments but also includes discussion of significant federal decisions from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as current events affecting criminal law. The episodes are designed to provide context and insight into all aspects of criminal law for both court-system actors and the public at large.
Turning State's
Turning State's is a podcast for North Carolina prosecutors and others interested in the criminal justice system in North Carolina. It is hosted by Joseph L. Hyde, prosecutor advisor with the University of North Carolina School of Government, and Jonathan Holbrook, director of training with the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. The podcast follows the format of a case update. Each episode features Hyde and Holbrook discussing a few criminal cases recently decided by North Carolina appellate courts. Listeners can expect to stay up to date on relevant criminal caselaw and receive expert advice on how this caselaw can inform and advance other prosecutions.
Turning State's is produced in the recording studio at the University of North Carolina School of Government. The podcast is a collaboration between the School of Government and the Conference of District Attorneys.
A Day in the Life
Welcome to “A Day in the Life”. This is a production of the Center for Public Leadership and Governance at School of Government at the University of North Carolina. Each episode of “A Day in the Life” is a short podcast on the trials and tribulations newly elected local officials face each day as they serve their first year in public office. With “first meeting” guidance from incumbent officials, quick tips for sidestepping embarrassing media moments, and other advice, you’ll successfully navigate the potholes of public office.
Latest Episodes
#47 of
Turning State's
Episode 47: Williams, Farook, and Lofton
In this episode, Hyde and Holbrook discuss three cases decided by the North Carolina appellate courts in August 2026. In State v. Williams, No. 21PA25 (N.C. Aug. 14, 2026), the North Carolina Supreme Court held that the occupant of a motor vehicle does not lose his protected status under the castle doctrine statute when he is forced out of the vehicle by the attack of an unlawful intruder. In State v. Farook, No. 457PA20-2 (N.C. Aug. 14, 2026), the North Carolina Supreme Court limited State v. Harbison to cases in which the defendant is wholly surprised by defense counsel's concession of guilt. And in State v. Lofton, COA25-58 (N.C. Ct. App. Aug. 5, 2026), the Court of Appeals concluded that a prosecutor has no authority to dismiss a charge after the jury returned a verdict of guilty and the charge resulted in a conviction.
#46 of
Turning State's
Episode 46: Wilder, Sandi, and Simpson
In this episode, Hyde and Holbrook discuss three cases decided by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in July 2026. In State v. Wilder, No. COA25-1153 (N.C. Ct. App. July 1, 2026), the Court of Appeals concluded the trial court did not err by denying the defendant’s request to proceed pro se. In State v. Sandi, No. COA25-430 (N.C. Ct. App. July 1, 2026), the Court of Appeals found sufficient evidence of restraint beyond that inherent in another felony to support a conviction for kidnapping). And in State v. Simpson, No. COA 24-1092 (N.C. Ct. App. July 15, 2026), the Court of Appeals held that simultaneous possession of multiple firearms constitutes one instance of carrying a concealed weapon.
#45 of
Turning State's
Episode 45: Broadway, Fair, and Thompson
In this episode, Hyde and Holbrook discuss three cases decided by the North Carolina Court of Appeals on July 1, 2026. In State v. Broadway, No. COA25-1159 (N.C. Ct. App. July 1, 2026), the Court of Appeals held the defendant could not be sentenced for both assault inflicting serious bodily injury (ASBI) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury (ADWIKISI) based on the same conduct. In State v. Fair, No. COA25-880 (N.C. Ct. App. July 1, 2026), the Court of Appeals found no plain error in the trial court’s guilty knowledge instruction. And in State v. Thompson, No. COA25-1017 (N.C. Ct. App. July 1, 2026), the Court of Appeals upheld the defendant’s convictions for obtaining property by false pretenses even absent evidence that the victim was a person within the state.
#44 of
Turning State's
Episode 44: Wise, Havens, and Moore
In this episode, Hyde and Holbrook discuss three cases decided by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in June 2026. In State v. Wise, No. COA25-683 (N.C. Ct. App. June 3, 2026), the Court of Appeals found no violation of the confrontation clause when the testifying expert reviewed and approved a toxicology report. In State v. Havens, No. COA25-592 (N.C. Ct. App. June 17, 2026), the Court of Appeals upheld the defendant’s convictions for secret peeping and sexual exploitation of a minor. And in State v. Moore, No. COA25-1049 (N.C. Ct. App. June 17, 2026), the Court of Appeals concluded the trial court did not err by admitting evidence of a separate instance of the defendant’s fleeing to elude arrest.
#43 of
Turning State's
Episode 43: Phelps, Metcalf, and Tyson
In this episode, Hyde and Holbrook discuss three cases decided by the North Carolina Court of Appeals on June 3, 2026. In State v. Phelps, No. COA25-934 (N.C. Ct. App. June 3, 2026), the Court of Appeals ruled that simultaneous possession of multiple weapons constitutes a single instance of possession of a weapon of mass death and destruction. In State v. Metcalf, No. COA25-624 (N.C. Ct. App. June 3, 2026), the Court of Appeals found that repeated unanswered phone calls in violation of a DVPO constitutes felony stalking. And in State v. Tyson, No. COA25-604 (N.C. Ct. App. June 3, 2026), the Court of Appeals held that sexual exploitation of a minor by solicitation does not require that the material solicited actually exist.