North Carolina
Lawsuit alleges glitches in North Carolina court filing system caused wrongful detainments
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in North Carolina alleges an electronic state court records system rolled out this year in four counties has caused some people to be arrested multiple times on the same warrant and has delayed the release of others from custody.
Two North Carolina residents who were arrested earlier this year are suing their county sheriffs and the Texas-based technology company responsible for designing the electronic filing system, which they say led to their unlawful detainment.
In their complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Timia Chaplin of Wake County and Paulino Castellanos of Lee County are asking a federal judge to bar their local sheriffs from continuing to use the system. They argue that it subjects the public to “unconstitutional deprivations of liberty.”
The lawsuit — a proposed class action — suggests there are likely hundreds more affected residents around the state.
“This class action seeks to remedy past harms and — as eCourts is soon expected to be implemented in North Carolina’s remaining counties — prevent future violations,” Chaplin and Castellanos said in the complaint.
After years of discussions about how to modernize the state judiciary’s archaic filing system, the state Administrative Office of the Courts awarded Tyler Technologies a $100 million contract in 2019 for a package of software applications known as eCourts.
The program launched Feb. 13 in four pilot counties — Wake, Lee, Johnston and Harnett — and is supposed to be expanded to all 100 counties by 2025. But several attorneys and lawmakers have criticized its rocky rollout, pointing to numerous glitches, system lags and expansion delays.
Chaplin, who said she was arrested twice on the same warrant for failing to appear in court, claims those system malfunctions violated her constitutional right to be free from unlawful search, seizure and detention.
Although a judge dismissed her case when she appeared in March for a rescheduled court hearing, Chaplin said her arrest warrant remained outstanding for nearly a month because its “resolved” status had not been communicated across eCourts applications.
Castellanos alleges his release from jail was delayed about 14 days due to issues in digitizing his case file.
Their lawsuit names Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe and Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes. They could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Graham Wilson, spokesperson for the North Carolina Judicial Branch, said the administrative office has encouraged residents, attorneys and court officials to report any issues like those alleged in the complaint since it first launched the new system.
“We have investigated each report we have received and have not substantiated that any allegation of wrongful arrest or incarceration was caused by” the eCourts system, Wilson said Tuesday.
Tyler Technologies declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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North Carolina
Obituary for Kristie Lee Sturgill Blake at Market Street Chapel
North Carolina
NBA Draft Scouting Report: Texas’ Tre Johnson
![NBA Draft Scouting Report: Texas’ Tre Johnson NBA Draft Scouting Report: Texas’ Tre Johnson](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2209,h_1242,x_1298,y_403/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/nba_draft/01j462h25vxrtranzx37.jpg)
Drake Powell
Guard | UNC
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 185 lbs
2025 Draft Age: 19.78
As a natural wing or off-ball guard, Powell has what it takes to be an impact player at the next level. He boasts the positional size and athleticism to exploit his opponents on either end of the floor. Overall, he’s a very smart player with a competitive edge and is willing to adapt to what his team needs to win.
Powell is really best as an off-ball player offensively, especially given he’s not known for being a self-creator or primary ball-handler. However, he is a smart cutter and has found ways to position himself for success when finding space. To really take his game overall to the next level, the North Carolina freshman will need to prove he can become a better shooter. Whether it’s in the mid-range or beyond the arc, his jumper is inconsistent. Again, as an offensive prospect, he needs to improve to really become a two-way threat. The physical traits are there for him to get where he needs to be, but the development of his offensive game is a huge swing for Powell in terms of draft stock.
On the defensive end of the floor, Powell really shines. His athletic tools allow him to be all over the place and make plays on and off of the ball. He is quick, boasts length and is very smart as a defender. When thinking about what will differentiate him from other prospects at the next level, it will be his upside as a defensive prospect. He plays with tremendous energy and effort and he makes those around him better on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, he is one of the best defenders in the entire freshman class.
If Powell can convince NBA teams that he has the future projection of being a better offensive player, there’s no question he could be one of the most impactful players in the draft. In the meantime, he can lean on his defensive abilities to contribute to winning. The former five-star recruit is following in the footsteps of his father as a Tar Heel, as he played baseball for North Carolina when he was in school.
Mid to Late Lottery Pick in 2025 NBA Draft.
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North Carolina
WATCH: Steamy and Stormy in North Carolina on Friday, Heat Advisory in the eastern Triad
Friday, August 2: High humidity remains Friday with highs reaching into the 90s and feels like temperatures expected near 100 degrees. A Heat Advisory for the heat index reaching between 105 to 107 degrees is in effect from 11 a.m. Friday until 8 p.m. in the easter Piedmont Triad. Spotty to scattered storms may also bring a severe threat for the afternoon. Storms that do become severe may bring damaging wind and hail.
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