State Bar of Georgia Lawyers Serving the Public and the Justice System

Appellate Practice

Welcome to the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar of Georgia, which was approved by the Board of Governors at the annual meeting of the State Bar in June 2000.

The purpose of the section, as stated in its bylaws, is "to foster professionalism and excellence in appellate advocacy and to encourage improvements in the appellate process." The work of the section involves publishing newsletters, sponsoring programs and seminars, encouraging appellate pro bono representation, providing a forum for dialogue between the appellate bench and bar of this state, and, when appropriate, advocating improvements in appellate practice and procedure through legislation.

The need for this section arose from the developing recognition that appellate advocacy is a distinct practice area that involves a unique set of skills. Appellate practice is governed by independent sets of procedural rules that are very different than those that apply to trial practice. Moreover, the approach to written and oral advocacy in the appellate context differs significantly from that generally employed in the trial context.

Today, there are many members of the State Bar of Georgia who have practices that are limited to or focus primarily on appellate practice. The Appellate Practice Section offers these members programs and activities focusing on appellate practice. This section also provides all members of the bench and bar in Georgia with a source of valuable information about appellate practice in the state and federal court system.

For additional information on Section activities or to join the Section, click on the links above. To get more involved in Section activities, please go to the "Leadership/Committees" link and contact the Committee chairs and members.

Dues: $15/yr
Section Year:  June to June (one year term)

Section Officers

Paul James Kaplan, chair
Home Depot U.S.A. Inc.
2455 Paces Ferry Road NW, Bldg. C-20
Atlanta, GA 30339-4024
Phone: (770) 384-3078
Fax: (770) 384-3655
Email: paul_j_kaplan@homedepot.com

Joseph Scott Key, secretary
J Scott Key PC
70 Macon Street
PO Box 2696
McDonough, GA 30253
Phone: (678) 610-6624
Email: scottkey@bellsouth.net

Bryan Paul Tyson, treasurer
Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP
1170 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 2200
Atlanta, GA 30309-7200
Phone: (678) 347-2200
Email: bpt@sbllaw.net

Ronan P. Doherty, immediate past chair
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP
3900 One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309-3417
Phone: 404-881-4100
Email: doherty@bmelaw.com

Section Newsletters

The Section's newsletter, The Appellate Review, features articles of interest to appellate practitioners and provides information about the Section's structure and membership. If you have any interest in submitting an article or helping the Section publish the newsletter, please contact the section chair. All newsletters are linked as PDFs.

SUMMER 2013
WINTER 2013
WINTER 2011
SPRING 2010
WINTER 2009
WINTER 2008
OCTOBER 2005
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003  
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002
APRIL/MAY 2002  
SEPTEMBER 2001
JUNE 2001
WINTER 2001

Section Links

Section Bylaws
Leadership / Committees
Section History
Appellate Practice Links
Midyear 2013 Appellate Practice Section luncheon with Hon. Billy Ray and Hon. Lisa Branch