LOWNDES CO – The Georgia Court of Appeals will hold oral arguments at the Lowndes County Historic Courthouse.

Release:

The Court of Appeals of Georgia continues its mission of community outreach this fall with offsite oral arguments in Valdosta. This session will be held at the Lowndes County Historic Courthouse on September 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard will be joined by his fellow panel members Judge Amanda H. Mercier and Senior Judge C. Andrew Fuller.

At the commencement of the session, attorneys will be sworn in to practice before the Court. If you are a current member of the State Bar of Georgia and interested in being sworn in on September 24, please contact reavesl@gaappeals.us before September 18.

The panel will be hearing three oral arguments during the session. In the first case on the calendar, the Court will consider whether a trial court dismissal under the doctrine of res judicata was proper. Second on the calendar is a slip and fall case where the judges must determine if the trial court erred with a summary judgement imposing a duty on motel guests to wear shoes when walking around the motel. The final case being heard involves a closer look into whether facts existed to establish an enforceable contract.

This event is open to the public and we anticipate it will be attended by local members of the Bar and other members of the public, including students and teachers from Valdosta State University, Valwood School, Lowndes High School, Valdosta High School, Thomas County Central High School and Crossroads Baptist School.

“My colleagues and I recognize the significance and benefit of making the judiciary more accessible,” said Presiding Judge Dillard. “Our goal is to hold oral arguments at different venues across the state so that attorneys, students, and members of the public can observe firsthand the judicial process at the appellate level. We specifically look forward to providing an opportunity for so many students to witness an oral argument and ask us questions without having to travel to Atlanta to do so.”

The Court of Appeals is Georgia’s intermediate appellate court, with fifteen judges who serve in panels of three. Oral arguments are not heard in all cases. The parties must ask to be heard, and the Court only grants about a third of the requests.

Briefs of the cases to be heard can be found on our website at www.gaappeals.us