Belal Elrahal joins School faculty to work in criminal law and procedure

The UNC School of Government is pleased to announce the arrival of Belal Elrahal to its faculty. Elrahal joined in July 2024 as assistant professor of public law and government. He will work in the field of criminal law and procedure, specializing in motor vehicle law.

In his role, Elrahal will serve as the primary faculty contact for the state’s nearly 700 magistrates on criminal law and motor vehicle issues. He will organize and teach in Judicial College courses for magistrates and will manage magistrate conferences sponsored by the School and the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Elrahal also will consult with, teach, and write publications for other judicial officials, including trial court judges, and attorney advocates.

Prior to joining the School, Elrahal served as an assistant public defender in Mecklenburg County and as an assistant appellate defender in the North Carolina Office of the Appellate Defender—an experience that he said showcased the importance of public service in providing resources to often under-resourced populations. 

“Working with underserved communities around the state, I learned how crucial a robust public service infrastructure is for improving people's lives,” he said. “Once I began contributing to that infrastructure, I found I couldn’t do anything else.”

Now at the School, Elrahal looks forward to harnessing that past public service experience to expand upon the mission to improve governance in the state.

“The School is a tremendous asset in improving the lives of all people in North Carolina, and I wanted to increase my impact in public service by joining the School,” he said.

“As a practicing attorney and public defender for about the last decade, my experience in criminal law and procedure, including impaired driving and motor vehicle law, equips me to substantively assist and further the School’s mission.” 

Through scholarship, publishing, and teaching, Elrahal aims to serve as a trusted resource for courts officials as they serve in the state’s interest.

“I hope to continue building on the scholarship and research here at the School,  and to provide practical publications to public servants around the state,” Elrahal said. “I also hope to provide programming to magistrates, judicial officials, and other audiences that will serve them in their missions serving the people of North Carolina.” 

Elrahal earned a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and J.D. from the UNC School of Law.