Steve Dillard
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Louis A. Dillard (born November 13, 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American
attorney
, appellate court
judge
, political activist, conservative
blog
ger and lecture
r. Dillard is the founder/creator of the weblog Appeal, and co-founded Coalition for Darfur blog, but is no longer a contributor at either blog. Dillard has also been a contributor to several other conservative and Roman Catholic blogs,. Recently, Dillard served as an advisor for Republican
candidates during the 2008 Presidential campaign
. In 2010, Dillard was appointed to fill a vacant judgeship on the Georgia Court of Appeals
.
and the Mississippi College School of Law
(cum laude).
In 1996, he was admitted to practice
in Georgia
, and he is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia
and federal
bar associations. Dillard clerked
for Judge Daniel Anthony Manion
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Dillard practiced appellate law with the Macon, Georgia
law firm
of James, Bates, Pope & Spivey LLP until receiving his judgeship appointment in 2010. He also lives in Macon with his wife, the former Krista McDaniel, and their three children.
On June 1, 2009, Steve Dillard was nominated by Georgia State Senator Cecil Staton
(R) to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia, and, on July 1, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
's Office of Communications announced that the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission
had recommended Dillard as one of nine individuals to fill that vacancy. But in August 2009, Governor Perdue appointed Dillard instead to the Judicial Nominating Commission.
In October 2010, Governor Perdue appointed Dillard to fill one of two vacancies on the Georgia Court of Appeals
. Dillard's judicial appointment runs from November 1, 2010 through January 1, 2013. He will be up for election for a full six-year term in July 2012.
is conservative Republican, federalist
, and Roman Catholic. He is a Republican Party
activist, and was a delegate
for Georgia at the 2008 Republican National Convention
. Dillard belongs to the conservative legal organization, The Federalist Society, for which he directs a local chapter. And he has lectured at several law schools on behalf of the Federalist Society, including, among others, the University of Notre Dame
and Washington and Lee University
.
Dillard started the "Southern Appeal" weblog in 2002 while he was serving as a law clerk to Judge Manion. Dillard started blogging under the pseudonym
“feddie” (shorthand for "Federalist") to comply with ethics
rules required of federal judicial law clerks. After Dillard completed his clerkship, he revealed his identity to the blogosphere
.
Dillard became known in the blogosphere for his commentary on some of President
George W. Bush
's judicial appointments to the federal courts. Specifically, Dillard wrote in support of William H. Pryor, Jr.
's nomination, and ultimate confirmation, to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. But he vigorously opposed Harriet Miers
' nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States
in 2005, which ended up being withdrawn. Dillard has also blogged in opposition to political candidates who claim to be Roman Catholic - but who have views on abortion
that are at odds with the Catholic Church's pro-life
position.
Dillard is also well-known among legal commentators for coining the catchphrase, "stare decisis
is fo' suckas." The statement suggests that courts should disregard established legal precedent and make new decisions that are more favorable to Dillard's ideological views. Dillard explains, however, that the slogan conveys his opposition to stare decisis being used as a form of judicial activism
. He argues that if a prior court decision "cannot be squared with the plain/original meaning of the Constitution, then that decision should be overruled with impunity, regardless of its jurisprudential vintage."
In 2005, he and liberal
blogger, Eugene Oregon, started The Coalition for Darfur blog to help stop the conflict in the Darfur region
of Sudan
.
In 2010, Campaigns & Elections's Politics Magazine named Dillard as one of the top 50 Republican Influencers in Georgia.
, Dillard started the advocacy website "Catholics against Rudy" to oppose the candidacy of former New York City
mayor, Rudy Giuliani
.
Dillard then was a legal and political advisor to the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee
, before finally serving on a steering committee for Senator
John McCain
during the 2008 Presidential election.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, appellate court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, political activist, conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger and lecture
Lecture
thumb|A lecture on [[linear algebra]] at the [[Helsinki University of Technology]]A lecture is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical information, history,...
r. Dillard is the founder/creator of the weblog Appeal, and co-founded Coalition for Darfur blog, but is no longer a contributor at either blog. Dillard has also been a contributor to several other conservative and Roman Catholic blogs,. Recently, Dillard served as an advisor for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidates during the 2008 Presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. In 2010, Dillard was appointed to fill a vacant judgeship on the Georgia Court of Appeals
Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the U.S. state of Georgia.-Founding of the court:The genesis of the Court of Appeals began with a report by the State Bar of Georgia in 1895, suggesting that the Georgia State Legislature create a new intermediate appellate...
.
Education and legal career
Dillard graduated from Samford UniversitySamford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
and the Mississippi College School of Law
Mississippi College School of Law
The Mississippi College School of Law is located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The law school started out as the Jackson School of Law in 1930, but was acquired by Mississippi College in 1975. The main campus of Mississippi College is located in Clinton, Mississippi.In December 2005, the school...
(cum laude).
In 1996, he was admitted to practice
Admission to the bar
An admission to practice law, also called admission to the bar, is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. Becoming a lawyer is a widely varied process around the world. Common to all jurisdictions are requirements of age and competence; some jurisdictions also require citizenship...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and he is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia
State Bar of Georgia
The State Bar of Georgia is the governing body of the legal profession in Georgia, operating under the supervision of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Membership is a condition of admission to practice law in Georgia....
and federal
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
bar associations. Dillard clerked
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge Daniel Anthony Manion
Daniel Anthony Manion
Daniel Anthony Manion is a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.Manion received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1964. At Notre Dame, Manion was a participant in the Bengal Bouts. Following graduation, Manion served in the Army in the Vietnam War...
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Dillard practiced appellate law with the Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of James, Bates, Pope & Spivey LLP until receiving his judgeship appointment in 2010. He also lives in Macon with his wife, the former Krista McDaniel, and their three children.
On June 1, 2009, Steve Dillard was nominated by Georgia State Senator Cecil Staton
Cecil Staton
Cecil Staton is a politician in the U.S. state of Georgia. He is a member of the Republican Party and serves in the Georgia Senate representing the 18th district, which includes portions of Bibb, Houston, Monroe, Jones, and Crawford counties.Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Staton graduated...
(R) to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia, and, on July 1, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
Sonny Perdue
George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, was the 81st Governor of Georgia. Upon his inauguration in January 2003, he became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Benjamin F. Conley served during Reconstruction in the 1870s....
's Office of Communications announced that the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission
Judicial nominating commission
A judicial nominating commission in the United States, is a body used by some U.S. states to recommend or select potential justices and judges for appointments by state governments....
had recommended Dillard as one of nine individuals to fill that vacancy. But in August 2009, Governor Perdue appointed Dillard instead to the Judicial Nominating Commission.
In October 2010, Governor Perdue appointed Dillard to fill one of two vacancies on the Georgia Court of Appeals
Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the U.S. state of Georgia.-Founding of the court:The genesis of the Court of Appeals began with a report by the State Bar of Georgia in 1895, suggesting that the Georgia State Legislature create a new intermediate appellate...
. Dillard's judicial appointment runs from November 1, 2010 through January 1, 2013. He will be up for election for a full six-year term in July 2012.
Politics and writing
Dillard's ideologyIdeology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
is conservative Republican, federalist
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
, and Roman Catholic. He is a Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
activist, and was a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
for Georgia at the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
. Dillard belongs to the conservative legal organization, The Federalist Society, for which he directs a local chapter. And he has lectured at several law schools on behalf of the Federalist Society, including, among others, the University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
and Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
.
Dillard started the "Southern Appeal" weblog in 2002 while he was serving as a law clerk to Judge Manion. Dillard started blogging under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
“feddie” (shorthand for "Federalist") to comply with ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
rules required of federal judicial law clerks. After Dillard completed his clerkship, he revealed his identity to the blogosphere
Blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
.
Dillard became known in the blogosphere for his commentary on some of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's judicial appointments to the federal courts. Specifically, Dillard wrote in support of William H. Pryor, Jr.
William H. Pryor, Jr.
William Holcombe "Bill" Pryor, Jr. is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Previously, he was the Attorney General of the State of Alabama from 1997 to 2004.-Background:...
's nomination, and ultimate confirmation, to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. But he vigorously opposed Harriet Miers
Harriet Miers
Harriet Ellan Miers is an American lawyer and former White House Counsel. In 2005, she was nominated by President George W. Bush to be an Associate Justice of the U.S...
' nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in 2005, which ended up being withdrawn. Dillard has also blogged in opposition to political candidates who claim to be Roman Catholic - but who have views on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
that are at odds with the Catholic Church's pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
position.
Dillard is also well-known among legal commentators for coining the catchphrase, "stare decisis
Stare decisis
Stare decisis is a legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior decisions...
is fo' suckas." The statement suggests that courts should disregard established legal precedent and make new decisions that are more favorable to Dillard's ideological views. Dillard explains, however, that the slogan conveys his opposition to stare decisis being used as a form of judicial activism
Judicial activism
Judicial activism describes judicial ruling suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The definition of judicial activism, and which specific decisions are activist, is a controversial...
. He argues that if a prior court decision "cannot be squared with the plain/original meaning of the Constitution, then that decision should be overruled with impunity, regardless of its jurisprudential vintage."
In 2005, he and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
blogger, Eugene Oregon, started The Coalition for Darfur blog to help stop the conflict in the Darfur region
War in Darfur
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
In 2010, Campaigns & Elections's Politics Magazine named Dillard as one of the top 50 Republican Influencers in Georgia.
2008 Presidential election work
In preparation for the 2008 Republican Presidential primary electionRepublican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
, Dillard started the advocacy website "Catholics against Rudy" to oppose the candidacy of former New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mayor, Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
.
Dillard then was a legal and political advisor to the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
, before finally serving on a steering committee for Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
during the 2008 Presidential election.
Published work
- Five essays in the Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America, (M.E. Sharpe, 2005);
- Griffin BellGriffin BellGriffin Boyette Bell was an American lawyer and former Attorney General. He served as the nation's 72nd Attorney General during the Jimmy Carter administration...
and Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaAntonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
biographies in Great American Judges, (ABC-CLIOABC-CLIOABC-CLIO is a publisher of reference works for the study of history and social studies in academic, secondary school, and public library settings.-History:...
(2003)); and - Kenneth StarrKenneth StarrKenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
and Joseph StoryJoseph StoryJoseph Story was an American lawyer and jurist who served on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1811 to 1845. He is most remembered today for his opinions in Martin v. Hunter's Lessee and The Amistad, along with his magisterial Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, first...
biographies in Great American Lawyers, (ABC-CLIOABC-CLIOABC-CLIO is a publisher of reference works for the study of history and social studies in academic, secondary school, and public library settings.-History:...
(2001)).