February 7, 2026: Scribes—The American Society of Legal Writers is pleased to welcome ix new directors to the Board. Their work spans the appellate bench, complex litigation, attorney training, legal writing education, and law librarianship. Collectively, they bring a wealth of legal writing expertise that will advance Scribes’ mission and strategic goals.
Jill Barton (University of Miami)
Professor Jill Barton is the Director of the Legal Communication and Research Skills Program and a Professor of Legal Writing at the University of Miami School of Law. She has authored or co-authored three books on legal writing: The Supreme Guide to Legal Writing, So Ordered: The Writer’s Guide for Aspiring Judges, Judicial Clerks, and Interns, and The Handbook for the New Legal Writer. A former appellate judicial clerk and award-winning journalist, she brings a distinctive blend of rigorous legal analysis and professional writing craft.
Hon. Stephen Louis A. Dillard (Georgia Court of Appeals)
Judge Stephen Dillard is the Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia. Before joining the Georgia Court of Appeals, he chaired an appellate practice group in private practice, clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and served as Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals from 2017 to 2019. His many accolades include receiving the 30th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence in 2025 from the National Center for State Courts.
Ben Keele (University of Minnesota)
Professor Ben Keele serves as Minnesota Law’s Scholarly Services Librarian, supporting faculty scholarship dissemination and research impact. He has served as editor-in-chief of the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies and is the editor of Law Library Journal. Before joining Minnesota Law, he worked at William & Mary Law School and Indiana University Indianapolis McKinney School of Law. In 2020, the American Association of Law Libraries recognized him with an Emerging Leader Award.
Stefan C. Love (Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP)
Stefan Love is a partner at the L.A. appellate boutique GMSR. He graduated first in his class at UCLA School of Law, served as a senior editor on the UCLA Law Review, and clerked for Judge Paul J. Watford on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Love earned a Ph.D. in Music Theory from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, and before attending law school, he was a professor of music theory. He was recognized by Best Lawyers® in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch® (Appellate Practice) (2024–2026).
Mac R. McCoy (Carlton Fields)
Mac McCoy blends high-level litigation and mediation experience with the perspective of a former federal judicial officer: he served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Middle District of Florida from 2015 to 2023 before returning to practice. He is also an influential bar leader—serving as the 2024–2025 Chair of the ABA Business Law Section—and has chaired the editorial boards of major ABA publications. He is a certified mediator and panelist with the American Arbitration Association National Roster. He was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, for 2025–2026.
John Snow (Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office)
John Snow is a seasoned trial lawyer who serves as Director of Legal and Trial Training at the L.A. City Attorney’s Office. His prior work includes serving as a law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, an associate at Irell & Manella, and a partner at King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano. His book, Rules to Speak By: Present and Persuade Like the Country’s Best Lawyers, will be published by Carolina Academic Press in April 2026.