Over the past few years, CDPL has been quietly growing its work. Now, we want to explain why and how we’ve expanded our footprint in criminal defense, both in our backyard of Durham and across the state.
For most of its history, CDPL focused exclusively on death penalty defense. We remain as committed as ever to preventing executions and representing the more than 120 people on North Carolina’s death row. We’ve been extremely successful in that work, and this summer, North Carolina will mark 20 years since the last person was killed by the state.
Without the overwhelming burden of imminent execution dates, we’ve been able to broaden our legal practice. CDPL now regularly represents people facing harsh sentences in non-capital cases. “We will always vigorously represent our death row clients, but now we can use our resources in other ways too,” said Aiesha Krause-Lee, a CDPL staff attorney. “We’re helping the community and people facing extreme sentences, even if they’re not on death row.”
CDPL’s attorneys now take felony cases and represent defendants, even if they aren’t facing the death penalty, in homicide cases in Durham and surrounding counties like Vance, Granville, and Alamance. They have also prioritized taking cases in rural counties considered “legal deserts,” where there is no public defender’s office, ensuring that all those facing serious sentences have access to counsel.
CDPL attorneys bring an approach grounded in building strong relationships with clients and bringing the full picture of their lives into the courtroom. This comes from a background in capital defense, which involves extensive mitigation investigation and client relationships that last years.
In one case, a CDPL client is facing a years-long sentence for car theft. CDPL’s investigation revealed he had untreated mental illness and substance abuse disorder, and that he stole cars because he needed a place to sleep. CDPL attorneys are now working to get him into a treatment program rather than prison.
“If you don’t actually deal with why people are committing crimes, then they’re going to come out of prison and it’s just going to keep happening,” Krause-Lee said. “We’re working to deal with the root problems, which are the same issues we see in so many of our death row cases.”
This expansion of our practice also connects CDPL to the Durham community where its staff works and lives. In Durham County, we are lucky to have no capital cases, but we are now fighting other extreme sentences including life without parole.
Non-capital work assures that CDPL staff have recent trial experience and regular contact with attorneys and judges around the state. That means a strong capital bar, ready to spring into action wherever the death penalty rears its head.
“We face the solemn responsibility of saving people’s lives,” said CDPL Executive Director Shelagh Kenney. “That’s why we work tirelessly to maintain a roster of highly skilled attorneys who defend clients in North Carolina’s courtrooms every day. It’s a privilege to expand the group of clients whose lives we can touch.”
