ADA Matters Because All People Matter

A DISABLED DAD’S ADA MATTERS
Georgia on My Mind
STATE BAR OF GEORGIA • CITY OF BROOKHAVEN • GIRMA, GMA, AND GALLAGHER BASSETT • GEORGIA POST • STATE ADA COORDINATOR’S OFFICE

Things Russell D. Willard Did to Me, and When Russell D. Willard Did It

Back to Russell D. Willard · the State Bar record

Things Russell D. Willard Did to Me:

  1. Russell D. Willard has never answered which account his office stands behind. His office told me in writing on May 12, 2026 that the State Bar “is not a public entity”, and on May 29, 2026 that “the State Bar’s position remains that it is not subject to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Its counsel of record told a federal court on June 9, 2026 that “the State, through the Georgia Supreme Court, controls the State Bar and its agents and employees”. I asked him on September 22, 2026, at 10:55 AM, with an answer due September 25. As of October 17, 2026, nothing. Read my September 22 letter
  2. He has never sent me one email, letter or acknowledgment. As of October 17, 2026, 47 of my emails carried his address, 9 addressed to him and 38 copying him. His mailbox returned one read receipt in all of it.
  3. His mailbox opened my April 30, 2026 “Urgent Request for Help” on June 3, 2026, at 3:35 PM, 34 days after I sent it. No reply ever came from him.
  4. On May 11, 2026 he was the direct addressee of my written cure demand, cure window May 14. The deadline passed with no response from him. Neither of my May 14 emails to him was answered.
  5. On September 14, 2026 he was asked, with Damon E. Elmore, what written rule governs grievances against lawyers employed in the Office of the General Counsel, and to say plainly if none exists. Answers were due September 24, 2026. As of October 17, 2026, no written answer.
  6. His name heads the Office of the General Counsel letterhead on the April 10, 2026 dismissal and on the two Office letters of June 30, 2026.
  7. On June 2, 2026, John J. Shiptenko wrote me that “the General Counsel has asked me to convey to you” that the office had received two PDF submissions. That relay is the only message in my record sent on his behalf by name.
  8. On October 7, 2026, at 3:32 PM, I sent him one PDF: a letter, 32 exhibits and sixteen questions, due October 20, 2026. That date has not passed. The only replies were an automatic reply and seven read receipts from other mailboxes. None came from his. Read what came back

When Russell D. Willard Did It:

Every email I sent him, every email he was copied on, and every message from his mailbox, in order, each linked to the item. Where a read receipt was captured, the time is shown. Times are Eastern. Chronology, not motive. A read receipt shows a message was opened on that mailbox. It can be declined, and many mail programs never send one.

DateRoleWhat it wasRead it
Apr 10, 2026LetterheadRussell D. Willard’s name heads the Office of the General Counsel letterhead on the April 10 dismissal.Read it: Georgia Bar Dismisses Despite Twice Sent Rebuttal
Apr 20, 2026Bounced, then copied6:39 PM Eastern: the reconsideration request sent to Russell D. Willard’s address bounced. At 8:21 PM Eastern, he was copied on the separate request to correct the April 10 dismissal. No response.Read it: April 20: I Asked the Bar to Correct a ‘No Rebuttal’ Dismissal
Apr 21, 2026Copied6:43 PM through 6:53 PM Eastern: Russell D. Willard was copied on four written messages, including the notice to the President.Read it: Bar President Notified of Admitted Intake Error
Apr 30, 2026Sent to himThe conflict screen and preservation demand. No response.Read it: The State Bar of Georgia ADA Access Diary
Apr 30, 2026Copied12:28 PM: my “Urgent Request for Help: ADA Access Route for State Bar Grievance Process,” sent to the State ADA Coordinator’s Office with him copied. His mailbox opened it on June 3, 34 days later.Read it: Urgent Request for Help
May 7, 2026Sent to himThe email cataloguing the ADA handling deficiencies. A subordinate, not Willard, replied.Read it: The State Bar of Georgia ADA Access Diary
May 11, 2026Sent to himThe written cure demand and its ledger, cure window May 14. No read receipt captured. The deadline passed with no response.Read it: The State Bar of Georgia ADA Access Diary
May 13 to 14, 2026Sent to himThe post cure notice and both cure day emails. Silence.Read it: The State Bar of Georgia ADA Access Diary
May 19, 2026Attributed4:32 PM: an unsigned email from a generic State Bar mailbox. On May 26, John J. Shiptenko wrote that “Mr. Willard addressed Questions 11 through 12 in his email to you”. The message itself bears no signature, so it is described as another official’s characterization, not established fact.No page yet
May 15, 2026CopiedRussell D. Willard was copied on the two filing notices, and on May 18 on both receipt requests.Read it: Grievance Filed Against Andreea Morrison
May 29, 2026Copied7:14 PM Eastern: Russell D. Willard was copied on the direct written filing addressed to the Bar’s ADA contact.Read it: Grievance Filed Against Leigh Burgess
June 1 to 26, 2026CopiedRussell D. Willard was copied on nine written messages. As of October 17, 2026, no answer from him.Read it: Georgia Bar Leaders Read ’42 Days of Silence,’ No Reply
June 2, 2026Relayed2:08 PM Eastern: John J. Shiptenko wrote, “the General Counsel has asked me to convey to you” that the office had received two PDF submissions.Read it: Bar Logged the Burgess Grievance. ADA Contact: Requests Only
June 3, 2026Read receipt3:35 PM: his mailbox returned its only read receipt, on the April 30 “Urgent Request for Help”, 34 days after it was sent. No reply.Read it: Urgent Request for Help
June 30, 2026Letterhead4:24 PM and 4:26 PM Eastern: two Office of the General Counsel disposition letters were sent on letterhead naming Russell D. Willard as General Counsel.Read it: Georgia Bar Closed Six of Seven Matters, June 30
Sept 5, 2026CopiedRussell D. Willard was copied on both Human Resources letters, September 5 and September 18.Read it: Sandra Dixon, State Bar of Georgia: Day 102 Letter Sent
September 14, 2026He was askedAsked what written rule governs grievances against lawyers employed in the Office of the General Counsel, and to state plainly if none exists. Answer due September 24, 2026. None came.Read it: September 14 Questions to the General Counsel and Executive Director
Sept 14, 2026Copied8:07 PM Eastern: Russell D. Willard was also copied on the letter to the Bar’s ADA contact. Delivery was confirmed at 8:08 PM.Read it: Bar Gave Me an ADA Contact. The Public Still Cannot Find One
Sept 15, 2026Copied3:37 PM Eastern: Russell D. Willard was copied on the letter to Jeffrey W. DeLoach, Chair, State Disciplinary Board.Read it: DeLoach Signed 4 Bar Dismissals. I Asked Him What Standard
Sept 19, 2026Copied4:17 PM Eastern: Russell D. Willard was copied on the one question email to John J. Shiptenko.Read it: What a State Bar ADA Coordinator Is Supposed to Do
September 22, 2026Sent to himA letter asking which account the State Bar stands behind: its written statements to me that it is not a public entity and not subject to Title II, or its court filings that the State controls the Bar and its agents and employees. Answer requested by September 25, 2026. None came.Read it: To Russell D. Willard, September 22, 2026
Oct 7, 2026Sent to him3:32 PM: one PDF, a letter with 32 exhibits and sixteen questions, due October 20, 2026. Seven read receipts came back, from other mailboxes. None from his.Read it: The October 7 Letter
Oct 7, 2026Complaint filed3:35 PM: my ADA grievance about his office and him as its head went to the Judicial Council of Georgia and Administrative Office of the Courts. Delivered 3:38 PM.Read it: The October 7 Letter
Oct 16, 2026Answer came12:08 PM, after two follow ups: “The JC/AOC does not have the authority to investigate discrimination claims against local courts or the State Bar of Georgia.”Read it: The October 7 Letter

ADA Matters welcomes documented corrections. Write to info@adamatters.com with the correct fact and its source.

Back to Russell D. Willard · the State Bar record