Who Is Russell D. Willard, General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia?

Who Russell D. Willard Is:

Russell D. Willard is the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia, the head of the Office of the General Counsel, the office that handles lawyer discipline in Georgia. The State Bar lists him as General Counsel in its staff directory.

The State Bar of Georgia’s own speaker page for him says:

• “On July 1, 2024, Russell Willard joined the State Bar of Georgia as General Counsel Designate.” Then: “On February 1, 2025, he became General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia”. That is a little over two years at the State Bar.
• “As General Counsel, he serves as legal counsel to the State Bar, and his ten lawyer office also handles lawyer disciplinary matters for the State Bar.”
• “Prior to joining the State Bar, Russell served for twenty-three years in the Georgia Office of the Attorney General,” “ultimately becoming Section Chief for the group in the office that handled legal matters for the state’s education agencies”.
• “Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Russell served for three years as Counsel for the House Majority Caucus in the Georgia General Assembly.” He “went on to receive his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1996”.

The State Bar member directory lists “Russell David Willard” with “Admit Date 06/13/1996”, 30 years ago. The State Bar’s own 2026 board book lists Russell D. Willard as a speaker at its April 30, 2026 continuing legal education program, “Staying Current and Competent: Ethics, Emerging Technology and Practice Updates for Georgia Lawyers” and, on February 24, 2026, as a speaker on “Law Practice Management and Ethics” (State Bar 2026 board book).

Sources: State Bar ICLE speaker page; State Bar of Georgia member directory; State Bar 2026 board book, viewed October 17, 2026.

Official page: State Bar of Georgia page listing Russell D. Willard.

Why Russell D. Willard Is On ADAMATTERS.COM:

• He teaches ethics, then lets a disabled man’s plea sit unopened. The State Bar’s board book lists Russell D. Willard as a speaker on “Law Practice Management and Ethics” on February 24, 2026, and at its April 30, 2026 ethics program, “Staying Current and Competent: Ethics, Emerging Technology and Practice Updates for Georgia Lawyers”. That same April 30, at 12:28 PM, I sent the State Bar my “Urgent Request for Help” with him copied. His mailbox opened it on June 3, 2026, at 3:35 PM, 34 days later. He never answered. Read the urgent request
• The man who signs nothing. He heads the office that handles lawyer discipline, and his name heads its letterhead. As of October 17, 2026, 47 of the 67 emails I sent the State Bar of Georgia had carried his address, 9 addressed to him. On April 20, 2026, I also sent him my request for reconsideration, addressed to him by name, by UPS overnight, signature required. He had never sent me one email, letter or acknowledgment. His first email came on October 21, 2026. Read the October 7 letter
• Double talk, from his own office. On May 12, 2026, his Deputy General Counsel, William D. NeSmith III, wrote me: “The State Bar of Georgia is not a public entity, such as a federal, state or local government department or agency.” On June 9, 2026, counsel of record for his office told a federal court: “the State, through the Georgia Supreme Court, controls the State Bar and its agents and employees”. On September 22, 2026 I asked him: “You head that office. State which account it stands behind.” As of October 17, 2026, no answer. Read the two answers
• A deadline he let die. On May 11, 2026 he was the direct addressee of my written cure demand, with a May 14 deadline. The deadline passed without a word. Read the cure demand
• A habit of silence. On September 14, 2026, I asked Russell D. Willard and Executive Director Damon E. Elmore what written rule governs grievances against lawyers employed in the Office of the General Counsel, and to state plainly if none exists. The answer was due September 24, 2026. None came. Read the September 14 questions
• Nobody will take the complaint. On October 7, 2026 I filed an ADA grievance about his office and about him as its head with the Judicial Council of Georgia and Administrative Office of the Courts. On October 16 its General Counsel wrote: “The JC/AOC does not have the authority to investigate discrimination claims against local courts or the State Bar of Georgia.”

As of October 17, 2026. Counted from my mailbox.

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