Ira E. Robinson graduated from Fairmont State Normal School and was admitted to the bar in 1891. He began his career as a prosecutor and later served on the Board of Regents of the State Normal School system. Robinson held positions in the West Virginia Senate and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He also administered the federal War Minerals Relief Act in 1921 and was appointed to the Federal Radio Commission in 1928, serving as its chairman until 1932.

Ira E. Robinson's political identity is marked by a blend of traditional judicial roles and progressive regulatory stances. His tenure on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia demonstrates a commitment to judicial authority, while his leadership in early radio regulation reveals a forward-thinking approach to emerging technologies. Robinson's opposition to General Order 40, despite his role in implementing it, suggests a nuanced understanding of regulatory balance. His financial struggles later in life, juxtaposed with his public service, hint at an underlying tension between personal ambition and public duty.