Edwin M. Speas, Jr. Honored with John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award

Edwin M. Speas, Jr. Honored with John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award 

Edwin M. Speas, Jr., received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award on September 3, 2025, in Raleigh, NC. State Bar President-Elect Katherine Frye presented the award. Ann Reed Dunn and Cecil Harrison assisted in the presentation. 

Mr. Speas graduated from Wake Forest University in 1967 and Wake Forest Law School in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and the North Carolina National Guard from 1969 to 1981.  Mr. Speas began his legal career in 1971, spending 32 years at the North Carolina Attorney General's Office.  There, he held roles including Chief Deputy Attorney General and led sections responsible for representing public officials, the state's public school system, and the University of North Carolina. 

After his tenure in public service, Mr. Speas joined Poyner Spruill LLP in 2003. He briefly left the firm in 2008 to serve as General Counsel to Governor Beverly Perdue, who referred to him as her "sage advisor and dear friend". He returned to Poyner Spruill in 2011, where he continues to be an active partner. His legal work has focused on major cases involving legislative and congressional redistricting, educational policies, tax policy, and employment practices. He has argued dozens of cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and has made several trips to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Mr. Speas has mentored dozens of lawyers in his 50+year legal career.  

Throughout his career, Mr. Speas has been the recipient of numerous awards acknowledging his legal prowess and commitment to justice. He was honored with the Common Cause Defender of Democracy Award in 2018 and was twice recognized as a "State Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation in 2018 and 2023. In 1990, he became the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service to the Education Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. His high standing among his peers is evidenced by his election as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Attorneys, a group for which he also served as Chair of the State Committee. His contributions were further recognized with the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2003, and he is consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. In 2024, he was inducted into the NCBA Senior Lawyers Division Legal Practice Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring legacy. 

Beyond his litigation work, Mr. Speas has demonstrated a profound commitment to public service through various leadership roles. He chaired the Governor's Judicial Nomination Commission in 2012 and served two terms as a member of the State Judicial Counsel from 2007-2009 and again in 2012. His community involvement extends to serving as a member of the Board of Visitors for the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina and as a member of the Education Lottery Commission from 2006 to 2008. 

Edwin M. “Eddie” Speas, Jr. truly exemplifies a lifetime of service and professionalism, making him a most deserving recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award.