Fulton County Deputy District Attorney, Lyndsey Hurst Rudder, announced that she is running for the Georgia Court of Appeals in the seat to be vacated by Judge Sara Doyle in May of 2020. She enters the race as the most qualified appellate candidate, as she currently leads the largest appellate division in the state: “If you want to do something well, you have to love what you do. After a decade-long career specializing in Georgia appellate law and routinely practicing before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court, I am excited to bring my expertise and dedication to the Georgia Court of Appeals,” said Rudder. “Not only will I bring efficiency and leadership to the Court, but I will bring a renewed commitment to the rule of law and a passionate creed to protect the rights of all Georgians. With the trust and support of citizens across the state, I would be deeply honored to represent the next generation of public servants as your new Georgia Court of Appeals Judge.”

Atlanta attorney and former House Judiciary Committee Chair, Sandy Springs State Representative Wendell Willard is serving as Campaign Chair. “I am honored to support one of Georgia’s next generation of leaders, Lyndsey Rudder, for the Georgia Court of Appeals. Lyndsey has been on the frontline litigating issues that affect all Georgians. She is exceptionally qualified, experienced and hard-working. I can’t think of a better candidate to serve on the Court,” said Willard. Representative Lee Hawkins and former Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority Jim Walters, both of Gainesville, are serving as Campaign Co-Chairs. Having grown up in Gainesville and raising her family in Atlanta, Rudder is humbled to have the support of these great leaders and public servants who have contributed so much to the state we all love.

Paul Howard, Fulton County District Attorney, also supports Rudder’s candidacy adding “Lyndsey Rudder is the head of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Appellate Unit, which handles more appeals than any other appellate division in the state. For the three years she has served in this capacity, Lyndsey has maintained a 96% success rate in both the Fulton County Superior Court and the Appellate Courts of this state. Her work has involved hundreds of cases and appellate matters. She is an outstanding supervisor having supervised a department of 11 lawyers. She is a wife and mother of two. Yes, she is my employee, but this does not distract from her experience and readiness to assume the position of Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals.”

Rudder brings over 10 years of appellate experience to the race and has been on the front line of many of the judicial issues facing the state of Georgia. Rudder began her career in the state’s Attorney General’s Office doing civil and criminal appeals. After working in the private sector, she created and ran the Appellate Division of the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office under the leadership of District Attorney Margaret Heap.

She remains one of the state’s most respected appellate attorneys, routinely providing statewide training to Georgia’s public safety community. “After 35 years as an attorney, I recognize Lyndsey Rudder as the best appellate attorney in Georgia. Her research and advocacy skills are unparalleled and her organization is remarkable,” Greg McConnel, Chatham County Deputy District Attorney.

Rudder and her family reside in the Springlake neighborhood of Atlanta where they are members of Northside United Methodist Church. Rudder has previously volunteered with Girls on the Run, the Legal Food Frenzy, St. Joseph’s hospital in Savannah, Georgia, and CHOA. She is a member of the appellate division of the State bar and was recently appointed to and completed the leadership academy of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.

“I am excited Lyndsey Rudder is running for the Georgia Court of Appeals and very impressed with her credentials. I believe they will lend exceptionally well to her handling both civil and criminal matters on the Court,” said Josh Belinfante, partner of Robbins Ross Alloy Belinfante Littlefield. He and Craig Kunkes are hosting a campaign kickoff and fundraiser later this month at the Robbins firm.