Judge Stephen Dillard

I hope all of you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. And as always, please be good to each other.

Back in my favorite reading spot.

Really all writing….

I hope your judge would agree!

“Show, don’t tell” is, in my view, a foundational principle of persuasive legal and judicial writing.

Appellate Practice and Procedure Class No. 7 (Mercer Law School, 2026), featuring Justice Verda Colvin and Judge Elizabeth Dallas Gobeil.

cc: @darthbluesky.bsky.social

Saturdays with Sirius.

During my recent visit to @NDLaw, one of the officers on our security detail gave me this beautiful challenge coin. It’s a wonderful keepsake from a memorable weekend.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. And as always, please be good to each other.

Appellate Practice and Procedure Class (@MercerLAWSchool) No. 6 (Spring 2026), featuring Judge Patrick J. Bumatay (Ninth Circuit) and Judge Kevin C. Newsom (Eleventh Circuit).

Attention Georgia lawyers!

The Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia’s website is now gaappeals.gov

and

the address to access our e-filing system has changed from efast.gaappeals.us to efast.gaappeals.gov

So, please update your bookmarks accordingly!

It was truly a pleasure to judge the semi-final rounds of the @NDLaw Religious Freedom Tournament.

I found a nice reading spot here at @NDLaw.

The Chicago Manual of Style!

Back in my favorite reading spot.

Appellate Practice and Procedure Class (Mercer Law School) No. 5 (Spring 2026), featuring Judge Tripp Self (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia).

We set our oral argument dates early on, so if there are several extensions to file granted, then this situation can happen—but it’s rare.

I’ve had a few occasions when a reply brief is filed on the evening before or day of oral argument, and what I typically do is allow the appellee to file a supplemental brief to address any arguments or cases that haven’t already been addressed in its brief.

Roses are red,
This Book is Blue,
I’ve cited my love,
See supra n.2.

#AppellateValentines

roses are red
I would rather you died
than to see you use
(citation modified)

Roses are red,
Appellants’ briefs they are blue.
I sure liked my co-clerks, but
Not like I like you.

#AppellateValentines

Alas, I lost that hard-fought battle at my Court during the Citation-Guide War of 2025. But be of good cheer, cleaned up is still being used by our Supreme Court!

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
My concurrences are often doubtful
unlike my love for you.

#AppellateValentines

It seems like a good time to post this again.

It’s fun how saying “Word Perfect” is like the Bat Signal for Judge Dillard.

My beautiful valentine of 34 years.

You have a standing invitation!

You should come visit us! It’s a beautiful courthouse and courtroom.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. And as always, please be good to each other.