2026 – Present
Judge Brian K. Epps was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp as the 99th judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia and sworn in on August 11, 2026. Judge Epps served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Georgia for thirteen years. Before joining the federal bench, Judge Epps was a partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he represented commercial policyholders in insurance coverage disputes throughout the United States and internationally.
Judge Epps teaches a mediation course as an adjunct professor at the UGA School of Law and has devoted significant effort to developing mediation concepts and technologies.
Judge Epps earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia and his law degree from the UGA School of Law, where he served on the Editorial Board of the Georgia Law Review and authored a published case comment. He then completed a two-year clerkship with U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story of the Northern District of Georgia.
Judge Epps has been actively involved in the Augusta community for decades, including serving as a board member and chairman of Shepeard Community Blood Center and helping found and launch Prodigal Ministries and the Harlem High School Alumni Foundation.
Judge Epps has been married to his wife, Amy, for 30 years. She is a regional literacy coach in the program established by the Georgia Early Literacy Act. They are the proud parents of two adult children.