Stephen Louis A. Dillard

Professional career

• Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, appointed in 2010 and currently serving as Presiding Judge of the Court’s Third Division
• In 2024, Judge Dillard was appointed by Chief Justice Michael P
• On July 1, 2017, Judge Dillard was sworn in as the 30th Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia for a two-year term that ended on June 30, 2019
• was appointed as the 73rd judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia on November 1, 2010 by Governor Sonny Perdue
• Legal Practice: 1996–2001: Attorney at Stone & Baxter, Macon, GA 2001–2003: Law clerk to Judge Daniel A. Manion, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 2003–2010: Of counsel and chair of appellate practice group at James, Bates, Pope & Spivey LLP, Macon, GA
• In September 2003, Judge Dillard joined James Bates as of counsel, specialized in appellate practice and complex litigation, and served as the founding chairperson of the firm’s appellate practice group
• After graduating from law school, Judge Dillard joined the Macon law firm of Stone and Baxter, where he practiced from 1996 until 2001.

Education

Additional information

• Judge Dillard was elected and then reelected by his fellow Georgians in 2012, 2018, and 2024.
• Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• handling pro bono publico appeals for indigent individuals.
• Current Division: Presiding Judge of the Third Division (previously Fourth Division)
• He also served as president of the Mississippi College Chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
• Honors include the Judge Robert G. Gillespie Outstanding Achievement in Appellate Advocacy Award and the American Jurisprudence Award in Appellate Advocacy
• Birth place: Nashville, Tennessee on November