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Georgia Court of Appeals, Stephen Dillard

Stephen is from Nashville, Tennessee. He has a bachelor's in History, Journalism and Mass Communication from Samford University, a master's in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law, and a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. He and his wife, Krista, have three children. He attends Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

Stephen is currently an Adjunct Professor at Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law, where he has been for the past five years. He previously worked at
James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP, as a law clerk for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on U.S. Courts of Appeals, and as an associate at Stone & Baxter, LLP.

Stephen Louis A. Dillard is currently a judge on the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia. He was appointed in 2010. He was then reelected in 2012 and 2018. 

Prior to his appointment, Judge Dillard was in private practice with James, Bates, Pope & Spivey in Macon, serving as chairman of the firm’s appellate practice group.

Was at the Macon law firm of Stone & Baxter, where he practiced from 1996 until 2001, when he left private practice to serve as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for Judge Daniel A. Manion.

He has published essays in the Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties, the Encyclopedia of Great American Judges, the Encyclopedia of Great American Lawyers, Judicature, the Green Bag Almanac & Reader, the Journal of Appellate Practice & Process  and the Mercer Law Review.

Is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Appellate Practice Section, the Macon Bar Association, and the Atlanta Bar Association.

- Prior to his appointment, Judge Dillard was in private practice with James, Bates, Pope & Spivey in Macon, serving as chairman of the firm’s appellate practice group.
- Was at the Macon law firm of Stone & Baxter, where he practiced from 1996 until 2001, when he left private practice to serve as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for Judge Daniel A. Manion.
- He has published essays in the Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties, the Encyclopedia of Great American Judges, the Encyclopedia of Great American Lawyers, Judicature, the Green Bag Almanac & Reader, the Journal of Appellate Practice & Process  and the Mercer Law Review.
- Is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Appellate Practice Section, the Macon Bar Association, and the Atlanta Bar Association.

Legal Experience

As of June 6, 2025, Stephen Dillard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Was on the Dean Search Committee for Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law

- Was on the Dean Search Committee for Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law

Community Involvement

Twitter

Stephen Dillard

- The Court of Appeals hears nearly all types of cases appealed from a lower-level trial-level court, such as Superior Court, Magistrate Court, and State Court. The Court of Appeals does not hear appeals on murder, constitutional questions, and criminal cases where the Georgia Supreme Court has jurisdiction.
- Cases before the Court of Appeals are decided by a three-judge panel. 
- Judges on the Georgia Court of Appeals are elected to six-year terms. Elections are nonpartisan and statewide. The Governor can appoint Court of Appeals Judges when vacancies arise.