Packed house as participants graduate from treatment court | Education

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The commissioners chambers in Brunswick County was packed Thursday as family and friends watched participants graduate from Jude Ola Lewis’ Treatment Court.

Several people from the drug court, mental health court and DWI court graduated from their respective program. This is the first graduation ceremony for the DWI court.

During the event, some people gave testimonies about how drug court has helped them stop doing weed, heroin and drinking.

Jim Blackburn was the guest speaker of the graduation. He was the lead prosecutor in the triple murder case of former Green Beret Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald.

He later went on to surrender his law license and enter guilty pleas to state charges. He served a three and one-half stint in state prison.

In 2000, Blackburn wrote and published a book about his difficutlies. He became a guest speaker for the North Carolina Bar Association and has continued as a motivational speaker across several states.

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