The North Carolina State Bar will honor Eddie Speas, a distinguished litigator and public servant, with the prestigious John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award in September 2025. This award is the highest recognition given by the Bar for extraordinary service to the legal profession and the public.
With a legal career spanning more than five decades, Speas has made a profound impact on North Carolina’s legal landscape through his work in both public service and private practice. Prior to joining Poyner Spruill in 2003, Speas spent 32 years in the Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina as Chief Deputy Attorney General, where he led sections of the Office responsible for representing public officials in high-profile litigation and oversaw legal representation for the state’s public school system and the University of North Carolina. In 2008, Speas served as General Counsel to Governor Beverly Perdue, providing legal guidance at the highest level of state government. He returned to Poyner Spruill in 2011.
Speas has argued landmark cases in both state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His representative work includes pivotal redistricting cases such as Common Cause v. Lewis, Common Cause v. Rucho, Covington v. North Carolina, and Cooper v. Harris, which have shaped the state’s approach to partisan gerrymandering and electoral fairness.
A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the North Carolina Bar Association General Practice Hall of Fame, Speas is widely respected for his integrity, intellect, and commitment to justice. He has also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and the North Carolina National Guard.
“Eddie’s career is a testament to the power of principled advocacy and public service,” said Managing Partner Dan Cahill. “His leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law have left an indelible mark on our profession and our state.”
Speas will be recognized on September 3, 2025 at the North Carolina State Bar Headquarters in Raleigh.
