During the 2023–24 academic year, 25 members of the judiciary visited Athens for a variety of events, connecting with School of Law students for valuable learning experiences.

During the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s visit to campus, the judges posed for a photo with students: (l. to r.) Natalya Moody, Chan Creswell, Judge Jimmie Reyna, Judge Todd Hughes, Judge Leonard Stark, Casey Wofford, Ian Moore and Joshua Horn.

The School of Law hosted the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in October, during which time the court heard oral arguments in four cases. Making the trip to Athens were Judges Todd M. Hughes, Jimmie V. Reyna and Leonard P. Stark.

Additionally, Harold D. Melton (J.D.’91), who was previously the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, continued to serve as a Sanders Scholar in Political Leadership and taught the course Representing the State. Chief Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. (J.D.’84) led the class Intro to the American Legal System, while Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery Sam Glasscock III instructed in the area of corporate litigation.

Several other judges visited the UGA campus to participate in events, judge moot court or mock trial competitions or serve as guest speakers for classes or student groups. Among them were:

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit: Judge Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves (J.D.’06)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: Judge Ryan D. Nelson and Judge M. Margaret McKeown

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit: Judge Elizabeth L. “Lisa” Branch, Judge Britt C. Grant and Judge Robert J. Luck

U.S. Court of Federal Claims: Judge Edward H. Meyers

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Judge Victoria M. Calvert, Judge Steve C. Jones (J.D.’87), Judge William M. “Billy” Ray II (J.D.’90) and Judge Tilman E. “Trip” Self III (J.D.’97)

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia: Judge Benjamin W. Cheesbro (J.D.’10) and Judge Lisa Godbey Wood (J.D.’90)

Georgia Supreme Court: Justice Carla Wong McMillian (J.D.’98)

State Court Judges: Chief Judge Eric A. Brewton (J.D.’83) (Cobb County), retired Chief Judge Ethelyn N. Simpson (J.D.’90) (Athens-Clarke County), Judge Josh W. Thacker (Spalding County) and Judge Jason B. Thompson (Fayette County)

McKeown and McMillian serve as jurists in residence

During the 2023–24 academic year, two members of the judiciary held positions as visiting instructors through the law school’s jurists in residence programs.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown served as the Edenfield Jurist in Residence. McKeown taught a weeklong class focused on judges and politics. She also presented a lecture titled “Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas – Public Advocate and Conservation Champion.”

The B. Avant Edenfield Jurist in Residence program – made possible by a contribution from Allen W. Yee (J.D.’03), a former clerk of the late Edenfield – enables one or more Article III judges to spend some time at the School of Law each year. Edenfield was a longtime federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia who earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from UGA.

Additionally, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carla Wong McMillian (J.D.’98) served as the 2024 Hines Jurist in Residence. She taught a mini course titled Persuading the Judge and Jury and presented the lecture “From China to Augusta to the Supreme Court.”

The law school established The Be Kind Fund, in memory of the late Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines, in 2019. The fund’s title is based on a frequent mantra of the late justice – “Be Kind” – and annually sponsors the Hines Jurist in Residence as well as funds scholarships and provides semester/summer fellowship grants for law students.

—Mason A. Brock