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Does ADA Title II apply to the State Bar of Georgia?
John J. Shiptenko, Senior Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote on May 29, 2026: “the State Bar’s position remains that it is not subject to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Title II covers a “public entity,” which 42 U.S.C. § 12131(1) defines to include “any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State or States or local government.” On June 9, 2026, lawyers for the defendants, among them the State Bar’s Office of the General Counsel, told a federal court that “the State, through the Georgia Supreme Court, controls the State Bar and its agents and employees.”
On May 12, 2026, William D. NeSmith III, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote to me that the Bar “is not a public entity.” The same afternoon, at 3:09 PM Eastern, Stacey Peace, State ADA Coordinator, wrote to the Bar’s John J. Shiptenko: “I am not exactly sure if the 11th circuit has been asked to rule specifically on this question as it relates to the State Bar of Georgia; however, there are instances where State Bars have been held to be Title II entities under the ADA due to State Bars serving as administrative arms of state supreme courts or state governments.” I was not copied. This answer reports the words. It does not decide the question.
Sources: 42 U.S.C. § 12131; 28 C.F.R. § 35.104; the May 29, 2026 email; the May 12, 2026 NeSmith email; the May 12, 2026 Peace email; Mignott v. State Bar of Georgia Foundation, Inc., N.D. Ga. No. 1:23-cv-01834, Document 52, page 4, filed June 9, 2026 (what the Bar told each audience); the full explainer.
Who is the State Bar of Georgia ADA coordinator?
John J. Shiptenko, Senior Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote to me on September 22, 2026: “I am the State Bar’s ADA Coordinator, and you may continue to send your accommodation requests to me.” On May 12, 2026, William D. NeSmith III, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, had written that the Bar is “not required to have a published ADA Coordinator.” See the proof
How do I file an ADA complaint with the State Bar of Georgia?
On May 26, 2026, John J. Shiptenko, Senior Assistant General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote to me: “You can send other ADA complaints to me.” In the same email he wrote: “When a disabled person requests help with the grievance form, we engage in the interactive process to identify and provide the most effective alternative method for completing it.” See the proof
How do I ask the State Bar of Georgia for a disability accommodation?
As of September 28, 2026, the State Bar’s June 2026 English and Spanish grievance forms each carry an ADA notice naming ADACoordinator@gabar.org. When I asked in writing, the Bar granted my accommodations in writing on May 4, 2026. See the proof
Is the State Bar of Georgia accessible?
The May 29, 2026 capture of gabar.org showed no ADA coordinator contact, no accessible format text and no disability grievance procedure. As of September 28, 2026, the Bar’s 2024 English grievance form, still posted, carries no ADA notice, while its June 2026 English and Spanish forms name ADACoordinator@gabar.org. See the proof
Did the State Bar say it is "not a public entity"?
Yes: on May 12, 2026, at 2:12 PM Eastern, William D. NeSmith III, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote to me: “The State Bar of Georgia is not a public entity, such as a federal, state or local government department or agency.” The same email said: “The State Bar of Georgia is not a department or agency of the State of Georgia, therefore we are not required to have a published ADA Coordinator.” See the proof
What happened when I sent the ADA Coordinator an accommodation request?
It was closed the next day: on October 7, 2026, I asked John J. Shiptenko, Senior Assistant General Counsel, to confirm in writing that the Bar received my letter and to tell me who would answer it. On October 8, 2026, at 5:33 PM Eastern, he wrote: “I am closing this matter, as you have made no request that can properly be classified as a request for an accommodation.” See the proof
Where else can I file an ADA complaint about the State Bar of Georgia?
As of October 18, 2026, you can file a federal ADA complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice or a State ADA complaint with the State of Georgia ADA Coordinator’s Office. That office says, in its own words: “Our office is not an enforcement agency.” See the proof
I am a disabled dad, not your lawyer. This is not legal advice. Every answer links to the dated page that shows it.
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