In the News

News & Headlines

2016 J. Kirk Osborn Award

"Lisa is renowned for protecting innocent clients from conviction, and for securing life sentences in even the most challenging capital cases."

CDPL is proud to announce that Lisa Dubs is the winner of the 2016 J. Kirk Osborn Award for outstanding work on behalf of indigent clients facing the death penalty. Lisa is renowned for protecting innocent clients from conviction, and for securing life sentences in even the most challenging capital cases. We celebrated Lisa’s accomplishments at a reception on October 6.

'Prevailing over evil'

"Local defense attorney to receive award for death penalty litigation"

For a long time, Lisa Dubs knew she wanted to be a defense attorney. Dubs got her start in law at Wake Forest University in 1983, where she felt intimidated by the career goals of her classmates. By that point, she already knew she wanted to be a public defender. “I felt like people probably thought I was too simplistic, but it is what I wanted to do,” Dubs said. “When I think of a lawyer, I think of somebody standing up against the powers that be, for someone who doesn’t have any advocates.” At any given time, Dubs has to divide her attentions between several cases. For death penalty cases, she said it usually takes more than a year to prepare. The first thing she does in every case is to make contact with her client.

Judge finds for sweepstakes employee

"the first ruling handed down in the state on charges against a sweepstakes worker or owner under the new state law that bans video sweepstakes."

The sweepstakes industry won a small victory in court last week, according to the Hickory Record. A Catawba County judge ruled that a worker at a sweepstakes cafe was not guilty of violating the state's anti-gambling statutes. Defense attorney Lisa Dubs told the newspaper that the case is "the first ruling handed down in the state on charges against a sweepstakes worker or owner under the new state law that bans video sweepstakes."

Double Homicide Trial...
Returns Verdict Of Not Guilty

"The second double homicide trial... came to an end after 11 weeks when the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016"

Murphy, 57, was found innocent of committing the November 1990 murders of Mark Randall Secreast and his wife Jeanie Barlow Secreast inside their Caldwell County home. The case was investigated at that time but not solved. Murphy was arrested and charged with their murders in April 2010.

Hickory death-penalty lawyer Lisa Dubs (’87) is earning the spotlight

"The high-profile verdict last week was the latest victory for a Hickory-based defense attorney who is gaining a reputation as one of the best capital defenders in North Carolina."

“The most important things to being a good lawyer are being prepared, knowing your case and knowing the kind of jurors you’re looking for,” the Catawba County judge said. “Lisa Dubs does all that very well.” Dubs has represented more than 100 clients charged with murder during her 24-year legal career. A dozen of her clients have been tried for their lives. Only one was sentenced to death.

"Lisa is An amazing lawyer! She gave me back my life. I was in a serious felony case where I could have done 20 years+. Lisa never gave up on me, and always tried to do what she could, she manage to pull a miracle and I’m currently in probation. I couldn’t thank her enough, she’s truly a great women who loves what she does. God bless you Lisa."

- Alonso L.

"She was applauded by the judge for her hard work. I am mesmerized by her capability and her compassion towards my boyfriend. I pray God blesses her and her entire family for what she helped accomplish."

- Katherine H.

"They're professional, compassionate, empathetic and just really nice people."

- Bill V.