SEE CDPL’S PROJECT ON THE ORIGINS OF N.C.’S DEATH PENALTY: RACIST ROOTS
CDPL is a non-profit law firm that represents people on death row, coordinates capital litigation across North Carolina, and serves as a clearinghouse for accurate and timely information on the N.C. death penalty. We believe that indigent defendants facing the death penalty deserve the same kind of high-quality representation available to the highest-paying clients. We also believe that ending the unjust and error-prone death penalty is a crucial part of building a more humane criminal justice system in North Carolina.
Announcements
CDPL is hiring: Seeking two new staff attorneys to join our team
CDPL is seeking to hire two new staff attorneys to join our team. We are committed to providing the highest quality representation to people facing execution, and to ending the death penalty in North Carolina. In addition to representing clients, CDPL spearheads litigation and public education campaigns that address systemic injustices. Our team of attorneys, mitigation investigators, paralegals, and public education specialists has been a key force in changing public opinion and stopping executions. Please click the link to learn how to apply.
Remembering Marcus Robinson, who helped expose death penalty racism
Earlier this month, Marcus Robinson was found dead in his cell at Scotland Correctional Institution. The prison ruled it a suicide. He was 49 and had spent his entire adult life, as well as a good chunk of his childhood, in prison. His death didn’t make the news. But for those who worked on Marcus’ case for decades, it was a tragic reminder of our criminal punishment system’s failure to create even a semblance of justice.
James Williams wins statewide award for his tireless racial equity work
We are happy to announce that James Williams, CDPL’s Racial Equity Coordinator, is the winner of the N.C. Advocates for Justice 2022 Annie Brown Kennedy Award. This award honors a commitment to acquiring full freedom for all citizens of North Carolina and exceptional advocacy that protects individual liberties. Its first recipient, in 2021, was former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. James could not be a more deserving successor.
Learn
Learn more about the death penalty. For a fuller listing, go to our Links page:
See Our Impact
CDPL’s staff has halted wrongful executions, helped free innocent people from death row, and exposed systemic injustices. Learn more about the work that has made CDPL a leader in addressing unfairness in capital punishment.
Intern or Volunteer
Do you want to learn about capital defense while working alongside a dedicated staff? If you are a law student looking for a summer internship, learn more here. If you are interested in volunteering, apply here.
