GREENSBORO Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Edmunds is joining a Greensboro law firm. Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP announced Edmunds arrival in the firm’s appellate group on Tuesday. “I am looking forward to it,” said Edmunds in a phone interview. “Smith Moore Leatherwood has a very well-developed practice with some very good lawyers. I know this from working with them for years. I am honored to be a part of the team.”Edmunds served on the N.C. Supreme Court from 2001 until 2016 when he was defeated for re-election by Judge Mike Morgan. Before his tenure on the state’s highest court, Edmunds served as a U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of N.C., appointed by President Ronald Reagan and retained by President George H.W. Bush. In 1998 he was elected to the N.C. Court of Appeals and remained there until his election to the N.C. Supreme Court in 2001. When asked if he ever sees going back into public office Edmunds said that he’s always been told “never to say never” but said it is unlikely. “Justice Edmunds has a proven dedication to the rule of law and is renowned for his commitment to excellence,” said Matt Leerberg, the firm’s appellate practice group leader. “Our clients will benefit from his insights into the appellate process and his keen strategic mind.”Edmunds earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and his undergraduate at Vassar College.
