Chief Judge Stephen Dillard, Georgia Court of Appeals (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

We like to think of the Georgia Legal Awards as the pinnacle of a legal community recognition, but in the case of Chief Judge Stephen Dillard of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, we take a back seat to the people's representatives.

This year, the Georgia House of Representatives named Dillard the state's “Twitter laureate.” House Resolution 35 said Dillard “has been using social media to connect with the Georgians he serves, to educate them about the judicial process, and to promote civility, kindness, and compassion.” They made particular note of his standard Friday weekend wishes: “be good to each other.”

For his nearly 16,000 Twitter followers, Dillard frequently takes “judicial notice” of their birthdays, discusses college football, the Constitution, legal writing, and the art of oral argument. He keeps the conversation upbeat and nonpolitical. He does show a bias in favor of footnotes and the Oxford comma—and his beloved Samford University.

What are your goals when you post content on social media?

My primary goal is to inform the citizens I serve exactly what we do as judges on the Court of Appeals of Georgia. I also seek to promote excellence in appellate practice, professionalism, civility, and civics education. Additionally, I use social media platforms to be a virtual mentor to law students and young lawyers in Georgia and throughout the United States. Finally, I want those who follow me on social media to know who I am as a person.

What's the biggest challenge you have in your role as a judge—which by custom limits what you may want to say publicly—and your enjoyment in keeping your Twitter feed fresh?

I am not bothered by the limitations on what I can say as a judge. I embrace them. I want the people who appear before me to know that they will receive a fair shake and that I am fully committed to serving all of my fellow Georgians. There is also a significant benefit to not being able to speak out on public policy issues: It forces you to listen to those who hold contrary positions and consider alternative viewpoints. I learn a great deal from the thoughtful people I interact with on social media platforms, and they are largely responsible for keeping my commentary somewhat interesting.