Christopher J. McFadden at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- Jurisdiction
- Georgia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Christopher J. McFadden
Judge · Court of Appeals of Georgia
Judicial assignments
- Court of Appeals of Georgia â Division 4Presiding Judge
Official Court of Appeals social-account announcement. Dated panel service; permanent division membership is not established.
Source checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- McFadden, who served for twenty years as a trial court judge in Akron, Ohio
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Georgia
- The son of the late Judge Donald B. McFadden, who held the role of a trial court judge in Akron for twenty years
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law in — J.D. (1985)
- Oglethorpe University in — B.A. (1980)
Additional information
- 2011 – Present, Chief Judge 2019 – 2021
- Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur, Georgia and has served as a lector since 1988.
- was elected in November 2010 for a term beginning January 1, 2011 and reelected in 2016 and 2022.
- He opened his own law office in 1988 and remained a sole practitioner until he joined the Court of Appeals.
- Presiding Judge McFadden graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1980 and from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1985.
- Christopher J. McFadden was born on August 9, 1957, in Akron, Ohio.
- For twelve years, Judge McFadden served as an officer or director of the Atlanta Bar Association.
- More than six years on the State Bar of Georgia’s Committee on the Judiciary.
- Before joining the Court of Appeals as its 74th judge, he appeared as appellate counsel before 26 of the judges who preceded him.
- Judge McFadden has been involved in high-profile and sometimes controversial rulings.
- He has served as a volunteer attorney for the Innocence Project and the Election Protection Project.
- For most of that time, he practiced in Decatur and focused on appellate litigation.
- They have one son Christopher McFadden’s career reflects a combination of extensive appellate experience, scholarly contributions to Georgia law, and active participation in the legal community, alongside involvement in cases that have sparked public discussion about judicial decision-making
- Judge McFadden is an elected member of The American Law Institute.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Georgia's class-specific Uniform Court Rules govern electronic devices and recording in state trial courts. Before using recording, photography, livestreaming, or similar courtroom technology, confirm the governing rule and the assigned court's procedure.
Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court RulesSupreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked September 6, 2026.
Court of Appeals of Georgia official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 15, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Georgia official judicial roster ↗Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗Georgia Courts Directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 25, 2026
View Georgia Courts Directory ↗Court of Appeals of Georgia current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Georgia current judicial profile ↗