Judge Robin Anderson Receives 2026 Award for Excellence
On March 18, 2026, Judge Robin Anderson was awarded the Administrative Law Section Award for Excellence during its presentation and reception at the Bar Center.
The Award for Excellence honors an outstanding Administrative Law Section attorney as an exemplar of excellence, dedication and passion for administrative and/or regulatory law. Judge Anderson fits the bill, with a career reflecting more than three decades of unwavering commitment to this area of law, public service and the fair administration of justice in North Carolina.
Her early career consisted of private practice, where she litigated complex matters before administrative tribunals and state, federal and appellate courts.
From 1998 through 2010, Judge Anderson served on the State Personnel Commission, first through a senatorial appointment and later as the first female chair, appointed by the governor. In that role, she provided thoughtful leadership on statewide personnel policies, disciplinary appeals and regulatory oversight affecting thousands of public employees.
For the past 15 years, Judge Anderson has served as an administrative law judge with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, where she has distinguished herself as one of the state’s most capable, efficient and respected adjudicators.
Appointed by the chief administrative law judge to serve as Medicaid administrator, she has presided over an extraordinary volume of contested cases — more than 120,000 appeals assigned and more than 800 substantive written decisions, each completed within the demanding 20-day statutory timeframe.
Judge Stacey Bawtinhimer, also of the Office of Administrative Hearings, nominated and presented her with the award.
Few attorneys embody the spirit, purpose and values of this award as fully as Judge Anderson, and her leadership extends far beyond the bench. Her work ethic, clarity of reasoning and commitment to due process have earned her a national reputation for fairness and intellectual rigor among litigants, agencies and colleagues alike.
Pictured left to right: Judge Robin Anderson and Judge Stacey Bawtinhimer
Judge Anderson ranks nationally among the top few states in federal CMS Medicaid evaluations for efficiency in meeting all state and federal guidelines, saving the state of North Carolina an estimated $25-30 million annually and ensuring that Medicaid recipients receive health care benefits swiftly and with full due process.
She has played a central role in statutory drafting and revision, collaborating with state and federal officials to improve the structure and accessibility of the fair hearings process. She has also developed and implemented OAH protocols for video and in-person hearings, managed the state and federal budgets for the Medicaid fair hearings system, supervised staff, traveled to train state officials across the country, negotiated vendor contracts and helped shape the procedures that govern more than 10,000 cases annually.
Judge Anderson’s innovative administrative law mediation program has been featured in the American Bar Journal, and her expertise has been sought by other states seeking to improve their own Medicaid mediation and fair hearing systems.
She has contributed to the legal community as an adjunct professor, CLE presenter, pro bono leader and active member of numerous NCBA committees, including service on the Administrative Law Section Council and as chair of the Pro Bono Committee.
Judge Anderson is, in every respect, an exemplar of excellence in administrative law. Her record reflects not only technical mastery and judicial temperament, but also a deep and genuine commitment to justice, public service and the rule of law. I can think of no candidate more deserving of this honor.
View more photos from the presentation and reception. Visit the Administrative Law Section page to learn more about the community and get involved.