Bench and Bar Keynote Speaker for March 16 Event: Judge John J. Ellington

Judge John Ellington is the keynote speaker for our annual Bench and Bar Reception and Dinner honoring the DeKalb County Judiciary at the Emory Conference Center Hotel at 1615 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

Judge John J. Ellington is from Soperton, Georgia (Treutlen County). He was born in Vidalia, (Toombs County), the son of the late Charles E. Ellington Sr. from Laurens County and Nan Davis Ellington from Johnson County. He graduated from Treutlen County High School in 1978 and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, graduating with degrees in business and political science. At ABAC, he served as president of the Student Government Association and received the George P. Donaldson Award as the outstanding graduate in the Class of 1980.

Judge Ellington graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in accounting in 1982, and from the University of Georgia Law School with a JD in 1985. That same year, he was admitted to the Georgia Bar and began a general trial practice, eventually becoming a partner in Andrew, Threlkeld, & Ellington in Vidalia, Georgia.

In 1991, Judge Ellington became one of the youngest trial court judges in Georgia when he was appointed State Court judge of Treutlen County. He was re-elected to that position in 1992 and 1996. During that time, he also served as a Superior Court judge by designation in 29 counties throughout South Georgia and as Municipal Court judge in Soperton, Lyons, Reidsville, Glenwood, Mt. Vernon, and Uvalda, Georgia.

Judge Ellington was sworn in as the 66th judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor Roy Barnes on July 12, 1999. He was subsequently elected statewide to a full six-year term in 2000. In January of this year, he was sworn in as the 25th chief judge of the Court of Appeals.

Judge Ellington has also served in many capacities in business, professional, civic, and religious organizations in south Georgia and metro Atlanta. An Eagle Scout, he served as Eagle Scout Alumni Chairman for Troop #56, BSA. He is a past president of the Vidalia Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian. He is former chairman of Four Rivers Ducks Unlimited, past president of the Soperton Lions Club, and former president of the Treutlen County Sportman’s Club. Judge Ellington is a member of Gridiron, the Atlanta Lawyer’s Club, and a Fellow of the Lawyers’ Foundation of Georgia. He is a director of the Colony Bank of Treutlen County.

In 2000, Judge Ellington was named to Georgia Trend’s 40-Under-40, recognizing 40 leaders throughout Georgia under 40 who have made significant contributions to the state. He was also a member of the 2001 Class of Leadership Georgia.

In 2001, 2006, and again in 2007, Judge Ellington was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Judicial Service Award by the Younger Lawyers Division of the State Bar, recognizing his outstanding service on the Bench and commitment to improving the practice of law.

Judge Ellington was named the Outstanding Young Alumnus at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 1994. He is a member of the Presidents Club at ABAC and serves on the ABAC Foundation. He also serves on the board of directors of Swainsboro Technical College. Judge Ellington is a member of the First Baptist Church in Soperton, where he has taught Sunday School and is a former chairman of the board of deacons.

Judge Ellington lives on his family farm in Treutlen County, Georgia.