Local News
Local News

Blackwell, Dillard get Appeals Court judgeships

By
Oct 20, 2010

Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday appointed Atlanta lawyer Keith Blackwell and Macon lawyer Stephen Louis Dillard to fill vacancies on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Both Blackwell and Dillard are members of the governor's Judicial Nominating Commission. The vacancies on the 12-member appellate court were created by the retirement of Judge Alan Blackburn and the death of Judge Debra Bernes.

Blackwell is a partner with Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs in Atlanta and once served as an assistant district attorney in Cobb County. He received his bachelor of arts and law degrees, both summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia.

Dillard chairs the appellate practice group with the Macon firm James Bates Pope & Spivey. He received his law degree cum laude from the Mississippi College of Law and his bachelor of arts degree from Samford University.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

Follow Bill Rankin on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

Texas Roadhouse is fighting a Georgia couple's bid for at least $95 million in damages over the death of their child, who was struck by a driver who minutes earlier had drank a beer at the restaurant chain's Cumming location. The trial in the case began Monday in Atlanta. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Texas Roadhouse fights $95M demand at trial over Georgia child’s death

1h ago

Atlanta finally has new tree protection rules. Some say it’s not enough.

3rd man arrested in Forest Park shooting linked to rival motorcycle gangs

Featured

Since 2023, customers of Georgia Power, which operates Plant Vogtle, have experienced six PSC-approved rate hikes. Polls open Tuesday for primary elections to select candidates for Georgia’s powerful utility regulatory board. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Today’s primary could help determine how much you pay for electricity

It’s the first time Georgia’s approximately 8.4 million registered voters have had the opportunity to vote in a Public Service Commission primary election in three years.

Atlanta finally has new tree protection rules. Some say it’s not enough.

Several Atlanta City Council members said they believe more needs to be done to protect trees in the “city in the forest."

Feds say Georgia tax preparer’s fraud likely cost the U.S. millions

Years of fraud by a Georgia tax return preparer has likely cost the IRS millions of dollars, the Justice Department says in a lawsuit seeking to put her out of business.