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2009 News Articles › Judge Ripley Rand Performing Duty In Ruling That Offenders Serving Life Sentences Are Eligible for Release, NCBA Says
Judge Ripley Rand Performing Duty In Ruling That Offenders Serving Life Sentences Are Eligible for Release, NCBA Says
Article Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The North Carolina Bar Association issued a statement
today in response to criticism of N.C. Superior Court Judge Ripley
Rand regarding his ruling in the release of inmates Alford Jones
and Faye Brown.
"Criticism regarding Judge Rand in his ruling Monday is
unfair and unfounded," stated NCBA President John Wester in
response to comments made by Gov. Bev Perdue. "In the midst of a
highly charged situation, Judge Rand has performed his
constitutional duty in ordering the release of these
inmates.
"Regardless of how one feels personally about this
matter, it is the duty of the judicial branch to interpret the
statutes of this state as enacted by our legislators and signed
into law by our governor. Contrary to the heartfelt opinion of Gov.
Perdue, this is exactly how the government and the courts are
supposed to work for our people under our
constitution."
To that end, the NCBA reiterates its position that due
process continue now that Judge Rand's ruling has been appealed to
the N.C. Court of Appeals.
The North Carolina Bar
Association, based in Cary at the N.C. Bar Center, is the largest
and oldest voluntary association for legal professionals in North
Carolina. To avoid
confusion, please note that the NCBA and the NCBA Foundation
are entirely separate entities from the N.C. State Bar which
regulates the practice of law in N.C.