Willie Louis Sands

Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 12, 2014
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
In office
2001–2006
Preceded by Duross Fitzpatrick
Succeeded by Hugh Lawson
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
In office
May 9, 1994 – April 12, 2014
Appointed by Bill Clinton
Preceded by seat created by 104 Stat. 5089
Succeeded by Leslie Joyce Abrams
Personal details
Born Willie Louis Sands
1949 (age 65–66)
Bradley, Georgia, U.S.
Alma mater Mercer University
Mercer University School of Law


W. Louis Sands (born 1949) is a Senior United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Born in Bradley, Georgia, Sands received a B.A. from Mercer University in 1971 and a J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in 1974. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve Signal Corps in 1974, remaining in the Reserve until 1980 reaching the rank of Captain. He was an assistant district attorney of the Macon, Georgia Judicial Circuit from 1975 to 1978. He was an assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia from 1978 to 1987. He was in private practice in Macon, Georgia from 1987 to 1991, and was a judge on the Superior Court, Macon Judicial District from 1991 to 1993.

On February 9, 1994, Sands was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia created by 104 Stat. 5089. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 6, 1994, and received his commission on May 9, 1994. He served as chief judge from 2001 to 2006. He assumed senior status on April 12, 2014.

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