To understand the impact of ACEs on children and to develop strategies for addressing adverse childhood experiences within our court system

The Chief Justice's Task Force on ACEs-Informed Courts launched today. The mission of the Task Force is to enable Judicial Branch stakeholders to understand the impact on children of exposure to ACEs (adverse childhood experiences; adverse community environments); and to develop strategies for addressing adverse consequences within our court system.

“I'm pleased to announce I am establishing the Task Force on ACEs-Informed Courts,” said Chief Justice Paul Newby. “These traumas increase the likelihood that these children will end up in the courtroom. I look forward to the positive outcomes this group will produce for our children and our communities.”

To accomplish this mission, the Task Force will:

• Provide judges and court administrators with practical education on the effects of ACEs;
• Equip juvenile court officials to recognize young offenders and victims impacted by ACEs;
• Identify existing programs and design new programs that intervene in the lives of young ACEs offenders and victims affected by ACEs to put them on a path away from the courthouse and into a successful adult life; and
• Provide a platform from which court officials can offer feedback to educators regarding their experiences, with the hope of creating further avenues for research on this important topic.

The Task Force will be co-chaired by Judge Andrew T. Heath, director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, and District Attorney Ben David for New Hanover and Pender counties. Task Force members are appointed by Chief Justice Newby and are representative of all stakeholder groups within our court system: judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, clerks, law enforcement, private attorneys, and child-representatives, as well as academic leaders. View the Task Force members. This talented, experienced, and diverse group will be supplemented with an advisory group made up of subject matter experts as well as representatives from law schools, universities, the Executive Branch, and private foundations.

Visit the Task Force’s website to learn more. Watch the announcement video with Chief Justice Newby, Judge Heath, and District Attorney David.