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Announcements & News

  • Division 4 Holding Oral Arguments in Valdosta
    August 20, 2025 – Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Judge Amanda H. Mercier, and Senior Judge C. Andrew Fuller will head south to Valdosta to hold oral arguments. This will be the Court of Appeals of Georgia’s second offsite event of 2025. The panel will be hearing oral arguments Read More
  • Senior Judge C. Andrew Fuller to Serve on Court of Appeals
    Atlanta, August 4, 2025 – The judges of the Court of Appeals of Georgia have unanimously voted to designate Senior Judge C. Andrew Fuller to temporarily assist the Court beginning on August 5, 2025. “We thank Senior Judge Fuller for his willingness to continue his distinguished career in public service Read More
  • Court Travels to Savannah for Oral Argument
  • Division 5 to Hold Oral Arguments in Elberton
    April 8, 2025 – Presiding Judge Christopher J. McFadden, Judge Kenneth Hodges, III, and Judge Trea Pipkin head northeast to Elbert County to hold oral arguments. This will be the Court’s second offsite event of 2025, and it celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Georgia Appellate Practice Act, which aims Read More
  • Division 2 to Hold Oral Arguments in Savannah
    April 2, 2025 – Presiding Judge Brian Rickman, Judge Elizabeth D. Gobeil, and Judge Jeffrey R. Davis head southeast to Savannah to hold oral arguments. This will be the Court of Appeals of Georgia’s first offsite event of 2025. The panel will be hearing oral arguments in the Commission Chambers Read More
  • Judges Sworn in to Commence New Terms on the Court of Appeals of Georgia
    Atlanta, December 18, 2024 – Seven judges were recently administered the oath of office and officially sworn in to serve new terms on the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Most of the judges are continuing their service on the Court, including Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier, Presiding Judge Stephen A. Read More
  • Retirement Ceremony for the Former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, The Honorable M. Yvette Miller
    Atlanta, October 22, 2024 – The Court of Appeals of Georgia looks forward to honoring and celebrating with Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller as she prepares to retire from the Court after 25 years of dedicated service. She will retire from the Court of Appeals at the end of her Read More
  • Division 2 to Hold Oral Arguments in Cobb County
    September 20, 2024 – Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller, Judge Todd Markle, and Judge Benjamin A. Land head northwest to Cobb County to hold oral arguments. This will be the Court of Appeals of Georgia’s fourth offsite event of 2024. The panel will be hearing oral arguments in the Ceremonial Read More
  • Division 4 to Hold Oral Arguments at Georgia College & State University
    Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Vice Chief Judge Trenton Brown, and Judge J. Wade Padgett head southeast to Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville to hold the Court of Appeals of Georgia’s third offsite event of 2024. The panel will be hearing oral arguments in the Magnolia Ballroom Read More
  • The Supreme Court names Judge Brian Rickman as Hearing Panel Presiding Officer
    Atlanta, August 6, 2024 – The Supreme Court of Georgia issued the following statement: The Hon. Robert C. I. McBurney has stepped down as Presiding Officer of the Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel after more than seven years of service. The Supreme Court has named Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Brian Rickman as Hearing Panel Read More
  • Division 5 to Hold Oral Arguments at Piedmont University’s Demorest Campus
    Presiding Judge Christopher J. McFadden, Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier, and Judge Brian Rickman head northeast to the Demorest Campus of Piedmont University to hold the Court of Appeals of Georgia’s second offsite event of 2024. The panel will be hearing oral arguments at the Swanson Center for Performing Arts Read More
  • Special Notice Regarding Filing by Mail
    Due to continued delays in the United States Postal Service, self-represented filers are encouraged to utilize the Court’s electronic filing system (eFast) to ensure timely filings. Alternatively, self-represented filers who choose to file by conventional paper filing should consider using a third-party commercial carrier for delivery. See Court of Appeals Read More
  • Presiding Judge Miller Honored by Atlanta Bar Association’s 2024 Professionalism Award
    Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller was honored to receive the Atlanta Bar Association’s 2024 Professionalism Award in May. This distinguished award is reserved for those whose outstanding contributions promote excellence, professionalism, and public responsibility within the legal profession. Presiding Judge Miller has exemplified this standard in her 25 years of Read More
  • Court of Appeals Mourns the Loss of Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley
    ATLANTA, May 20, 2024. The judges and staff of the Court of Appeals are deeply saddened by the death of Senior Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley. Chief Judge Amanda Mercier said, “The Court of Appeals is heartbroken to learn of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Judge Dorothy Toth Read More
  • Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller honored with 2024 Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award
    Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller was honored with the prestigious 2024 Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognition was presented to her at the 20th Annual Commitment to Equality Awards Ceremony, hosted by the State Bar of Georgia. The ceremony was held on Friday, April 26, 2024, starting at Read More
  • Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller to Retire from the Court of Appeals of Georgia
    Atlanta. April 12, 2024. After 25 years of dedicated judicial service to the citizens of Georgia, Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller will retire from the Court of Appeals at the end of her current term this year. A nonpartisan statewide election in May 2024 will determine her successor. Presiding Judge Read More
  • The Court of Appeals Welcomes Judge J. Wade Padgett to the Bench
    The Court of Appeals of Georgia welcomes its newest judge to the bench, Judge J. Wade Padgett, who was sworn in today by Governor Brian Kemp. “We are delighted to welcome Judge Padgett to the Court of Appeals,” said Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier. “We all look forward to working Read More
  • Division 3 to Hold Oral Arguments at University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega Campus
    The Court of Appeals of Georgia continues its mission of community outreach this spring with an off-site oral argument session at the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega Campus this month. Presiding Judge Sara L. Doyle will be joined by panel members Judge Ken Hodges and Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins. “The Read More
  • Gov. Kemp Announces Appointment of Superior Court Judge J. Wade Padgett to the Court of Appeals of Georgia
    Monday, February 19, 2024 Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the appointment of Superior Court J. Wade Padgett to the Court of Appeals. Judge Padgett began his superior court service in 2009, first in the Augusta Judicial Circuit and then in the newly-created Columbia Judicial Circuit. Before his appointment to Read More
  • Court of Appeals Welcomes Judge Jeffrey Watkins to the Bench
    The Court of Appeals of Georgia welcomes its newest judge to the bench: Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins, who was sworn in today by Governor Brian Kemp. “We are delighted to welcome Judge Watkins to the Court of Appeals,” said Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier. “His work as a superior court Read More
  • Investiture of Judge Amanda Mercier as Chief Judge
    Vice Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier will be sworn in as the next Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals on June 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the Court of Appeals courtroom in the Nathan Deal Judicial Building. Judge Trenton Brown will also be sworn in as the court’s Read More
  • Summer Interns at the Court of Appeals
    Presiding Judge Miller joined Vice Chief Judge Mercier to speak with some of the summer interns at the Court of Appeals and the 2023 Phipps Fellow. The Judges were asked by the summer interns at the Court of Appeals to discuss a workers compensation case that was heard by the panel Read More
  • Division 1 will Hold Oral Arguments in Columbus
    Presiding Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes, Chief Judge Brian Rickman, and Judge Benjamin A. Land will head to Columbus to hold the third Court of Appeals of Georgia offsite event of 2023. The panel will be hearing oral arguments at Columbus RiverCenter for the Performing Arts on April 12, 2023, at Read More
  • Division 4 to Hold Court in Tallulah Falls
    Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard, Chief Judge Brian M. Rickman, and Judge Trea Pipkin head north for the second Court of Appeals of Georgia offsite event of 2023. The panel will be hearing oral arguments at Tallulah Falls School on March 28, 2023, at 10 am. This visit continues Read More
  • Late Judge Goss Remembered this Week in Albany and Nationally
    The late Judge Stephen Goss was fondly remembered this week in the courthouse where he served as a superior court judge and began the region’s first mental health court. Nominations also opened this week for a national award in his honor. The Dougherty Bar Association unveiled a portrait of the Read More
  • Division 5 Holds Oral Arguments in Coffee County
    Presiding Judge Christopher J. McFadden, Judge Trent Brown, and Judge Todd Markle head south for the first Court of Appeals of Georgia offsite event of 2023. The panel will be hearing oral arguments at Coffee County High School on February 8, 2023, at 10 am. This visit continues the Court’s Read More
  • Court of Appeals Mourns the Loss of Judge Clyde Reese
    ATLANTA, December 19, 2022. The judges of the Court of Appeals are deeply saddened by the death of Judge Clyde Reese. Judge Reese passed away unexpectedly on December 17, 2022, after a short hospital stay. Chief Judge Brian Rickman said, “Judge Reese has been as wonderful a colleague and member Read More
  • Division 1 Holds Oral Arguments in Valdosta
    Presiding Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes, Judge Trent Brown, Judge Ken Hodges head south for the third Court of Appeals of Georgia offsite event of the year. They will be hearing oral arguments at Valdosta State University on October 12, 2022 at 10:30 am. When court concludes, the judges of Division Read More
  • CLE: The Murder of Colonel Lemuel Penn
    Friday, September 16, at 10 am we will hold a program that recounts the 1964 murder of Colonel Lemuel Penn by members of the KKK just days after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and explores the atmosphere of the times. After KKK members were acquitted of Read More
  • Court of Appeals Revises Rules on Briefing
    The Court of Appeals of Georgia has amended its rules to revise the required and suggested elements of appellate and amicus briefs. The new rules are designed to modernize and simplify the presentation of arguments and improve the transfer of ideas, and include mandatory and optional items. Instead of the Read More