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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Justice Robert H. Edmunds Jr. received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award on January 16, 2025, at the Greensboro Bar Association’s member meeting. The award was presented by North Carolina State Bar President Matthew Smith and Executive Director Peter Bolac.

Born in Danville, Virginia, Justice Edmunds moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1957. He earned a BA in English from Vassar College and a JD from UNC-Chapel Hill before serving in the US Navy. Upon completing his military service, Justice Edmunds began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Greensboro, later becoming an assistant US attorney before being appointed US Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina by President Ronald Reagan, a position he held through President George H. W. Bush’s administration. In 1993, Edmunds became a board-certified specialist in state and federal criminal law, adding certification in criminal appellate practice the following year. He entered private practice as a partner at Stern & Klepfer LLP before being elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 1998. Two years later, he won a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, where he served two terms.

Beyond his judicial service, Justice Edmunds has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to education, ethics, and access to justice. He has been a mentor and educator, serving as an adjunct professor at Campbell University School of Law, Regent University School of Law, and as a jurist-in-residence at High Point University School of Law. He has chaired the North Carolina Bar Association’s Appellate Rules Committee and the North Carolina Bar Association’s Judicial Independence and Integrity Committee. His commitment to legal scholarship is evident in his numerous CLE presentations, appellate advocacy training sessions, and legal writings.

Justice Edmunds has been a leader in improving access to justice. He was instrumental in establishing North Carolina’s appellate practice specialty program, advocated for pro bono representation in appellate courts, and is on the board of the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Foundation. He has been a steadfast supporter of judicial education, serving as president of the Appellate Judges Education Institute and holding leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s Appellate Judges Conference.

Recognized for his integrity, professionalism, and mentorship, Justice Edmunds’s collegiality and fairness have set a high standard in the legal profession. His ability to bridge ideological divides made him an ideal choice for the special master panel in North Carolina’s recent redistricting case, further cementing his reputation as an attorney and judge beyond reproach.

Justice Edmunds embodies the very essence of service and dedication that this award represents.

Filed Under: General News

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