Judge Timothy A. Canning

Today is Flag Day, and the North Carolina Judicial Branch is recognizing both our nation’s history and the enduring role of courts in safeguarding its founding principles.

At the North Carolina Judicial Center in Raleigh, the Betsy Ross 250 Flag flies alongside the United States Flag. Its 13 stars represent the original colonies, including North Carolina, serving as a reminder of the nation’s founding ideals.

This observance is more than symbolic. It reflects the courts’ ongoing responsibility to uphold liberty, justice, and self-government—values at the core of our constitutional system.

On Flag Day and throughout this year’s semiquincentennial, courts across the country are connecting history to the present and to the communities they serve.

"Today is Flag Day. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of our young nation. America was just one year old.

Ever since, the flag has stood for the promise America made in 1776: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. And every day, in courtrooms across the country, judges keep that promise alive."

From the National Judicial College.

The National Judicial College The National Judicial College is the nation’s leading provider of judicial education. We provide online and in-person courses, certifications, news and resources to judges across the country. Discover how NJC can be a resource for you today.

Have you heard about the recent developments about pre-trial detention for those accused but not convicted of a crime? Here's some information from the California Superior Court for Humboldt County on this issue.

www.humboldt.courts.ca.gov

Serving on the civil grand jury can be interesting, rewarding, and at times frustrating. If you are interested in learning more or applying, please visit https://humboldtgov.org/518/Civil-Grand-Jury-Forms

In California, 58 separate grand juries are convened every year in each county by the Superior Court to carry out three functions:

-Investigating and reporting on the operations of local government (a civil function)

-Issuing criminal indictments to require defendants to go to trial on felony charges, and

-Investigating allegations of a public official’s corrupt or willful misconduct in office, and when warranted, filing an "accusation" against that official to remove him or her from office.

Learn more about grand juries in California and the grand jury process here: https://www.courts.ca.gov/civilgrandjury.htm

Please don’t just toss your juror summons, our court system needs you!

Jury Summons? Jurors are undoubtedly an indispensable part of our justice system, and our courts need and appreciate the service of each and every juror. Here’s what jury service means and why you should be excited to do your civic duty as a juror (via Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino): https://bit.ly/4eYSHCL