The Court of Appeals held a special session in Guilford County to promote civic education and celebrate the milestone anniversaries of North Carolina's courts. A three-judge panel consisting of Judge Rick Elmore, Judge Robert N. Hunter, Jr., and Judge Wendy M. Enochs, heard two cases at the Old Guilford County Courthouse in Greensboro on Nov. 30. A reception honoring departing Judge Enochs followed the special session.

"This was truly an honor for our judges to include the Guilford County community in our proceedings with the hope that our session would serve to educate those in attendance about our court anniversaries and the role that the N.C. Judicial Branch plays in the state," said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Linda McGee.

Judicial Branch launched an initiative in January 2016 designed to bring together all North Carolinians to celebrate court anniversaries between 2016 and 2019. Anniversaries within this time period include the 50th anniversaries of the unified court system, District Court, Court of Appeals, and Administrative Office of the Courts. Additional milestones during the next three years include the 200th anniversary of the Supreme Court and the 240th anniversary of the Superior Court.

This special session was also part of a broader opportunity for the Judicial Branch to engage local communities in civic education. Through hosting this session, attendees in the Guilford County community were able learn about the importance of the rule of law, the fair and impartial administration of justice, and the Judicial Branch's public service in upholding individual rights for the betterment of all people.

For more information on how to take part in commemorating the North Carolina courts' historic anniversaries, or to learn about civic education opportunities including the Judicial Branch Speakers Bureau, please visit Celebrate.NCcourts.org.