Our Mission

The Independent Defense Counsel believes that all students accused of Honor Code violations have the right to a fair trial and a proper defense.  Since an Honor Court conviction has serious consequences for the student, the Independent Defense Council is dedicated to ensuring that all accused students are treated fairly and correctly under the guidelines set forth in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  As such, the Independent Defense Council resolves:

(1)   That all accused students deserve the most thorough and vigorous defense possible, within the reasonable limits of truth and fair play as set forth by the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance; that such a defense must be handled by an advocate whose sole interest is the well-being and fair treatment of the accused;

(2)   That students accused of an Honor Code violation have certain basic and fundamental rights; that among these rights are the rights to a fair, impartial and speedy trial; that the Defense Council should strive at all times to make sure these rights are respected;

(3)   That the office responsible for prosecuting an Honor Code violation should not be the same office that provides the defense in an Honor Court proceeding; that such as system is inherently unfair to the accused;

(4)   That while Honor Court proceedings are dedicated to the pursuit of truth for the benefit of the entire student body, the Defense Counsel should be dedicated to ensuring that the truth is revealed by an Honor Court proceeding in not one-sided or biased in any way for the prosecution.

By dedicating itself to the above principles, by working and training with members of the local legal community and University staff and administrators, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Independent Defense Counsel resolves to ensure that all students receive fair and impartial treatment when accused of an Honor Court violation.

 

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Last Modified: November 24, 2003