Judge Ray Confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Atlanta, October 15, 2018 – Georgia Court of Appeals Judge William (‘Billy") Ray, II was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Judge Ray was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as the 76th Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia and took the bench on July 30, 2012.

Before coming to the Georgia Court of Appeals, Judge Ray served in the Senate for six years, serving on the Judiciary, Special Judiciary Rules, Appropriations, Natural Resources, and Transportation Committees. Judge Ray’s legislative achievements include the passage of Heidi’s Law, which represented a comprehensive overhaul and toughening of DUI laws in the state. Judge Ray went on to take office as a Superior Court Judge for the Gwinnett Judicial Cicuit and was re-elected for three consecutive terms.

In 2005, Judge Ray founded the Gwinnett Drug Treatment Court, among the first handful of treatment courts in Georgia, and he served as its Presiding Judge for seven years. He also served for many years as the Chair of the Legislation Committee of the Council of Superior Court Judges, and most recently, as the Secretary-Treasurer of this statewide governing council of the 200 plus Superior Court Judges.

The Court congratulates Judge Ray on his confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.