After the oral arguments, the justices posed for a photo with some of the law school’s Dean’s Ambassadors. Those pictured include (l. to r.) Antavious McCarden, Maggie Camfield, Anna Grace Rogers, McKay Powers, Brigman Moore, Maddi Hughes, Casey Smith, Caleb Smith and Fatime Niane. The Georgia Supreme Court justices were: (l. to r.) Verda Colvin (J.D.’90), Carla Wong McMillian (J.D.’98), Charlie Bethel (J.D.’01), Nels Peterson (presiding justice), Michael Boggs (chief justice), Sarah Warren, John Ellington (J.D.’85), Shawn LaGrua and Andrew Pinson (J.D.’11). The last time the court convened at UGA was in October 2017. Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

The Supreme Court of Georgia held oral arguments for three cases in the Hatton Lovejoy Courtroom during February, with the goal of making the court’s business and the judicial process more accessible to the public.

This up-close access provided an extraordinary opportunity for UGA Law students to experience the Supreme Court’s work firsthand, according to Dean Usha R. Rodrigues. “We deeply value the longstanding relationship between the court and our law school, and our students learned from a day of stimulating debate and thoughtful argumentation.”

During the 2024–25 academic year, School of Law students also benefited from interactions with other members of the judiciary through guest lectures, conferences and panels, and moot court and mock trial competitions, among other on-campus activities.

In total, 38 judges and justices came to Athens and connected with law students. Nineteen were members of the federal judiciary and included judges from the 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals. Eleven were state Supreme Court justices. In addition to the state of Georgia’s highest court, the Supreme Courts of Hawaii and Florida were represented at the law school.