Published on December 2, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey  
Dillard2025

Samford University alumnus Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard ’92, presiding judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, has been named the recipient of the 30th annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. Presented by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), the Rehnquist Award is one of the most prestigious judicial honors in the nation and recognizes a state court judge who exemplifies integrity, fairness, open-mindedness and exceptional service to the judiciary.

Judge Dillard received the award from Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr. during a ceremony at the Supreme Court on Nov. 20.

“I am honored beyond words to receive the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, and it was especially thrilling to have Chief Justice Roberts present it to me at the Supreme Court of the United States,” Dillard said.

A highly respected judicial leader, Dillard has spearheaded several initiatives that improved the administration of justice in Georgia. His work included restructuring central staff for more efficient case resolution, securing additional resources from the General Assembly to address rising caseloads and contributing to significant jurisdictional reforms that streamlined the appellate process. His leadership was instrumental in the passage of the Appellate Jurisdiction Reform Act of 2016, a landmark change praised as “nothing short of revolutionary.”

In addition to his judicial service, Judge Dillard has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to public education and community engagement. Since 2012, he has supported the Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition, where he teaches oral advocacy techniques and judges student arguments. He also championed the implementation of live streaming oral arguments as part of his effort to make the judicial process more open and accessible to the public.

Dillard earned his undergraduate degree from Samford before completing his Juris Doctor at Mississippi College School of Law. Earlier this year, he received a Master of Laws in judicial studies from Duke University School of Law. Prior to his appointment to the Georgia Court of Appeals in 2010, he clerked for Judge Daniel A. Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and practiced for 12 years in complex and appellate litigation.

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Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.