U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Judge William M. “Billy” Ray, II, of Grayson, Ga., to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
 
“Judge Billy Ray has an outstanding record of service to Georgia in our state Legislature and on the bench and a history of getting things done,” said Isakson. “Judge Ray created ‘Heidi’s Law’ in Georgia to tighten penalties in repeat DUI cases, and he created the drug court in Gwinnett County. I’m pleased the Senate confirmed Judge Ray and look forward to his continued service.”
 
“Judge Billy Ray is a lifelong Georgian who has served our state well throughout his distinguished career on the bench and in the state legislature,” said Perdue. “I’m confident Judge Ray will continue to serve with integrity in this new role, just as he did during his combined 16 years on the Court of Appeals of Georgia and Superior Court in Gwinnett County. President Trump has selected an exceptional Georgian to fill this seat on the federal bench, and I congratulate Judge Ray on his confirmation.”
 
Ray has served as the 76th Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia since 2012. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Judge Ray served for 10 years as a Superior Court Judge in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit. Judge Ray served for six years in the Georgia Legislature and was a partner in the Gwinnett County law firm of Andersen, Davidson & Tate, P.C. Judge Ray received his B.B.A from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, magna cum laude, his M.B.A., from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law.