ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. -- Onslow County court staff is juggling a full calendar of trials and felonies. District Attorney Ernie Lee says he is planning his trial schedule a year in advance and has 22 murder trials pending for the county.
- Lee says his office and 19 assistant district attorneys are also dealing with about 3,500 felonies.
- Lee says the county needs at least two additional judges to catch up, and more qualified state-appointed public defenders.
- Seven jury trials have been held so far this year.
Lee says his office and 19 assistant district attorneys are also dealing with about 3,500 felonies, which is consistent with years past, but it is a lot.
Lee says the county needs at least two additional judges to catch up, and more qualified state-appointed public defenders. He says there are about a handful of them approved to participate in murder trials.
“We have the same attorneys appointed over and over. One of the attorneys in this town has six murder cases pending. You also have to remember those same attorneys in Onslow County have other murder trials pending in other counties,” said Lee.
Lee says they've held seven jury trials so far this year.
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