Duly Noted

Georgia judge to receive William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence

Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia has been named the recipient of the 30th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence presented by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

One of the highest judicial recognitions in the country, the Rehnquist Award honors a state court judge who demonstrates the outstanding qualities of judicial excellence, including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professional ethics, creativity, sound judgment, courage and decisiveness.

“Judge Dillard’s transformational efforts to improve appellate court administration will have lasting impacts for many years to come,” said NCSC President Elizabeth Clement. “His enthusiasm for and commitment to transparency and public trust is evident from his leadership in making courts more accessible.”

Dillard will receive the Rehnquist Award from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. during an event at the Supreme Court of the United States this month.

Dillard’s nomination spoke to numerous initiatives that improved the administration of justice including a restructuring of central staff to prioritize resources and more efficient case resolution. He was also successful in gaining additional staff resources from the General Assembly. 

His contributions on the Georgia Appellate Jurisdiction Reform Commission led to several categories of cases shifting from the supreme court to court of appeals to help reduce redundancies and improve efficiencies. Dillard was also instrumental in getting the Appellate Jurisdiction Reform Act of 2016 signed into law. 

Dillard earned an undergraduate degree from Samford University and JD from the Mississippi College School of Law. This year, he received a master of laws in judicial studies from the Duke University School of Law.

Dillard spent 12 years in private practice, specializing in complex litigation and appellate practice.


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