W. Louis Sands at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- Jurisdiction
- Georgia · Federal
- Judicial service
- May 9, 1994–present
W. Louis Sands
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Assistant district attorney, Macon Judicial Circuit, Georgia, 1975-1978
- Professional Career: Private practice, Macon, Georgia, 1987-1991
- Professional Career: Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2011-2015
- Judge, Superior Court of Georgia, Macon Judicial Circuit, 1991-1993
- Private practice, Macon, GA, 1987-1991
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Middle District of Georgia, 1978-1987
- Assistant district attorney, Macon Judicial Circuit, GA, 1975-1978
- U.S. Army Reserve, 1974-1980
- U.S. Army Reserve second lieutenant, Signal Corps, 1974-present
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, M.D. Georgia, 1994-2014
- Professional Career: Judge, Superior Court of Georgia, Macon Judicial Circuit, 1991-1993
Education
- Mercer University · B.A., 1971
- Mercer University School of Law · J.D., 1974
Personal record
Born 1949 · Bradley, GA
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
Courtroom Technology . Each courtroom is equipped with various levels of audio/visual and automated evidence presentation equipment which is available to attorneys. Attorneys are encouraged to take advantage of this equipment, which is fairly simple to operate.Technology for Attorneys | Middle District of Georgia | United States District Court ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387366CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2838/willie-louis-sands/Technology for Attorneys | Middle District of Georgia | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.gamd.uscourts.gov/technologyFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts