We are pleased to welcome McKensie G. Skeens, newly appointed Administrative Law Judge, to the bench. Judge Skeens is an accomplished attorney whose career has been defined by public service and education.

Originally from Abingdon, Virginia, Judge Skeens brings with her the values of service and community that shaped her early life. She earned her B.A., with honors, from the University of Georgia and went on to receive a J.D. from Campbell Law School.

Judge Skeens’s legal career began at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where she served as Assistant General Counsel. She later joined Schwartz Law, P.L.L.C., where she focused her practice on education law and worked closely with educators to help create legally sound practices that served the best interests of children and families. These roles deepened her respect of the law not just as a system of rules, but as a force that touches lives and communities in tangible ways.

Judge Skeens

What drew Judge Skeens to the role of Administrative Law Judge? For her, it was the opportunity to uphold the rule of law with impartiality, particularly in a field where the issues can be both technical and complex. Judge Skeens was also drawn to the independence of the office, stating, “Our task is not to advocate, but to listen carefully to every perspective and render decisions based upon the law.”

In her new role, Judge Skeens looks forward to the intellectual challenge of writing clear, well-reasoned decisions, and to the collegial environment of the bench that will allow her to learn from peers who bring diverse experiences to the tribunal. The advice Judge Skeens has for attorneys appearing before her is to be prepared, be clear, and be ready to support your arguments well.

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Skeens values slowing down and finding balance as important to providing perspective and sound judgment. “All work and no play makes the judge a dull person,” she said.

October 17, 2025/by Administrative