And the Award Goes to: Julian Mann III

By the Communications Committee

The first part of this article consists of reasons the section presented the award to Judge Mann, and the second part has his response to the presentation[1]:

Julian Mann III is held in high esteem by the administrative law bar and has the respect of all parties in the administrative process in North Carolina.

He served as the second Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the NC Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Appointed in 1989 as OAH’s Chief ALJ and Director by then North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Exum Jr., he was reappointed to consecutive terms by Chief Justices Burley Mitchell Jr., I. Beverly Lake Jr., Sarah Parker, and Mark Martin. Julian assumed the role of Chief ALJ when OAH was undergoing criticism.

In his eight four-year terms (nearly 32 years) role as Chief ALJ, he also served as North Carolina’s Codifier of Rules for many years. His leadership was key to the vibrant and capable OAH now in place. He worked tirelessly and in close cooperation with the General Assembly to enhance the role, prestige, authority and compensation of OAH and its ALJs. He worked to help train ALJs and to ensure that an ethical code of conduct applied to them. Julian focused on ensuring that OAH provided fair and impartial hearings, easy access for the public and responsive service to the citizens of North Carolina.

His contribution to administrative law has been exceptional. In his position as Chief ALJ, and through his national work on administrative law issues, Judge Mann helped shape modern day state administrative law. He was instrumental in introducing the idea of an independent administrative hearing panel, in North Carolina and elsewhere.

Judge Mann has also served justice through his service in bar organizations. He served on the NCBA’s Administrative Law Section Council as a Section Chair, member and liaison for many years. He recently served as NCBA Vice President at Large and Chair of its Endowment Committee. He also served as a member of the North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice. He has been active in the Wake County Bar Association.

Judge Mann’s national contributions to administrative law include serving as: President of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary (NAALJ), Chair of the ABA’s National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary (NCALJ), and NCALJ nominee to serve as Vice Chair of the ABA Judicial Division. He served as the Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Liaison to the State Administrative Judiciary. He served as the ABA’s Judicial Division Liaison to both the ABA Commission on Disability Rights and the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services.

Judge Mann has authored more than 60 articles related to law. He is a frequent CLE presenter, primarily in the fields of special education, administrative and due process of law.

Prior to his OAH leadership, Judge Mann engaged in the private practice of law from 1974 to 1989, concentrating in administrative law and litigation. He served as private legal counsel to the North Carolina Board of Architecture and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board. From 1978-2009, he served as adjunct faculty at North Carolina State University, teaching courses in Administrative Law, Business Law, Regulatory Law, and Architectural Law. Currently, he serves as Senior Lecturing Fellow at Regent University’s School of Law.

Julian received a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.P.A. from North Carolina State University, and a J.D. from Samford University Law School, where he served two terms as the National Law Alumni President and was chosen distinguished alumnus in 2017.

Julian is married to the former Diane Parker of Greensboro, proud parent of three and grandparent of six. He is active in his church. He enjoys creative writing. He has been active in the Senior Games. He has published a book, described as “political intrigue and constitutional fiction.”

Judge Mann’s Remarks on Accepting the 2022 Administrative Law Section Award for Excellence

Bain Jones, Section Vice Chair, presented the award to Judge Mann.  Judge Mann responded:

Thank you, Bain, for that kind and generous introduction.

I am deeply grateful to be recognized in this way and delighted to be here among so many of my friends and colleagues. It seems it was only yesterday that the North Carolina Bar Association and then the Administrative Law Committee sponsored a reception at the old Bar Center upon my initial appointment. In fact, it was over 32 years ago in December of 1989. But it was a kindness I will never forget.

For me, the importance of administrative law is reflected in what was just referenced as the need for a neutral decision maker that was guaranteed in the landmark United States Supreme Court opinion, Goldberg V. Kelly, authored so many years ago by the late Justice William Brennan.

I wish to again thank again my old friend, soon to be Chair, Bain Jones, for presenting this award. I also wish to thank the members of the nominating committee.

In particular, I wish to thank  my nominators, Dan McLawhorn and Charles Case, for thinking of me as a worthy recipient. Both have made incalculable contributions to the development of administrative law in our state.

In his second inaugural address some forty days before his assassination I now adopt what President Lincoln then said:  “With malice toward none and charity for all . . .”

Thank you.