Announcing My Retirement

After 41 years with the School of Government (formerly, the Institute of Government), I will retire on June 30. It has been my privilege to serve those who work in North Carolina’s criminal justice system. My interactions with people through teaching, phone calls, email, publications, etc., have been a source of deep satisfaction.

36 thoughts on “Announcing My Retirement”

  1. For decades, your name has been synonymous with the authoritative word about criminal law in North Carolina. It seems just about every DA, police officer and defense attorney has a copy of Arrest, Search and Investigation and it is not uncommon to preface a response to a legal question with “Well, Farb says that…”
    Enjoy retirement and thanks.

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  2. Enjoy retirement and just slow down and smell the roses. Thanks for all you’ve done over the years and the knowledge you have disseminated. Great job! My personal best wishes.

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  3. I guess you started teaching me in 1983 as a brand new Assistant DA. I’m now on the Superior Court bench, and I am still learning from you and your publications on a regular basis. Thank you very much and congratulations on your much deserved retirement !!

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  4. Bob-I hope you are doing well! I echo everything that John Towler said “times ten!” There’s not space here for me to write a decent tribute but I will say that if anyone here has any contacts with the governor, you truly deserve nomination for and award of “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” Let’s get this done folks for this brilliant, dedicated and humble public servant!

    Bob, I cannot thank you enough! Enjoy retirement!

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  5. I’ll echo Mr. Towler’s comments above. To this fledging LEO back in the late 70’s, your work was authoritative and I relied upon it heavily throughout my 31 year career. I’m confident the fruits of your labor will continue to be enjoyed by future generations of CJ professionals.

    Thank you, Sir.

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  6. Thank you so much for your research, advice over the years. We have always called you ‘the Guru” and will miss you. Enjoy your retirement, you deserve it.

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  7. Mr. Farb, thanks for your wisdom and most importantly, the desire to share it with others. You will be missed but, enjoy what the LORD has blessed you to reach…….RETIREMENT!

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  8. Your teaching and friendship have enriched us all, especially those who have had the privilege of nearness to your work. From our beginnings in the bowels of the IOG, alongside the SHP Basic School,( was it really 41 years ago), your continuing scholarship has lit the way to a modern, more just and certainly more rigorous appreciation of the importance of criminal law and procedure in our State’s jurisprudence. Well done, my friend!

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  9. Thank you for your long and distinguished service to all of us, but particularly those in law enforcement. Your common sense way of explaining things have made it easy to understand the intent of various laws that you have explained. Thank you again and enjoy your well earned retirement!!!

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  10. Thank you for your assistance over the years. In your adjournment sine die I think we all look forward to hearing from you periodically.

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  11. Congratulations Bob. Thank you for all your expertise over all of the years. You and the colleagues you leave behind are such a wonderful resource to the justice system, those of us who work in it and the general public which we all serve. Thanks and best wishes. Judge Joe Turner

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  12. Thank you, Bob for making a positive impact on many of us through your dedication and knowledge. You will be missed. Wishing you a happy retirement.
    Susan S. Gaddis

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  13. Wow, what will law enforcement in North Carolina do without your wisdom? You are certainly an icon in our field and we will really miss you. What a great resource you have been and kept a lot of us out of trouble! Best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

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  14. Congratulations on a well deserved retirement. You have been a fantastic asset to the State of North Carolina and to tens of thousands of law enforcement officers. Your work will not be forgotten and will remain your legacy for decades to come. Thanks for being such a great resource. May God bless you richly in your retirement.

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  15. Congratulations Bob! Your legal assistance tthrough your Bulletins, Legal Updates at DA conferences, Publications and email answers have been invaluable over my 20 plus years as a Prosecutor. I always found your advice on point and tremendously helpful. Yes, I have cited your opinions as well and will continue to do so. Your 41 years have left a long lasting imprint on the criminal justice system.
    Beth Dierauf 29B

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  16. Congratulations on your retirement. . You set a high standard for public service and will be missed. What was always most impressive was that the defense, the prosecution and the judiciary always agreed with your analysis. That is quite a feat. You will be missed. IKE

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  17. So many questions, and you always had the right answer. How many cases were influenced by your willingness to always be available to provide the best advice? Bob, I am grateful for your friendship and help at all times whenever I called.

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  18. Thank you for your long and distinguished service to all of us in law enforcement. Your common sense way of elucidating things have made it easy to understand the intent of various laws you explained. Thank you again and enjoy your well earned retirement!!! Roy

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  19. You have been an amazing source of wisdom and inspiration to us all, and you will be sorely missed. I wish you the best on this new chapter in your life. Godspeed Bob Farb!

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  20. Bob, your career has been a Judicial treasure for our state. May God richly Bless your retirement. You will be greatly missed.

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  21. Congratulations, thank you for your contribution to the legal profession in NC, and good luck! I will miss your thought-provoking posts!

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  22. Professor Farb: I am deeply grateful for your prescient insights; thoughtful and diligent service. Smooth sailing to you and your loved ones, With prayer and compassion.

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  23. Bob, I retired myself in November 2015 after 30 years of state and federal prosecution and took the “relax, smell the roses, do some traveling, forget about the evil doers” advice, which I did and recommend to you. But I only discovered today that you aren’t there, on the mountain top, memory still in tack, authoritative resources in your head and on your desk, just waiting to take yet another urgent call and, with much patience and wisdom, dispensing advice on all matters criminal, especially those matters dealing with the 4th Amendment. You have saved, or attempted to save, many a prosecutor and defense lawyer from interpreting the constitution and statues in more personally convenient but erroneous ways than indicated by the law. For this service alone, the legal malpractice insurers should endow a professorship in your honor. I sort of expected you to be there forever. Thank you Bob Farb. Enjoy your new journey. Thom Murphy

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