# Richard W. Story
Richard W. Story (born 1953) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia since 1998. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton and assumed senior status (semi-retired status letting federal judges keep a reduced caseload) on December 1, 2018.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
| Appointed by | William J. Clinton[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
| Confirmed | January 28, 1998, by voice vote[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
| Senior status | December 1, 2018[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
| Born | 1953, Augusta, Georgia[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
| Education | B.A., LaGrange College, 1975; J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 1978[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) |
## Early life and education
Story was born in 1953 in [Augusta, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/augusta-georgia).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) He grew up in Harlem, Georgia, a small town about twenty miles west of Augusta, and attended Harlem High School before enrolling at LaGrange College.[2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf) He received his bachelor's degree from LaGrange College in 1975 and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1978.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) • [3](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-15-story-nominated-to-the-federal-bench-for-north-ga.html)
## Legal career
Story began his legal career in private practice in [Gainesville, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/gainesville-georgia), from 1978 to 1986, joining the firm Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) • [2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf) While in private practice, he served as a part-time special assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia from 1980 to 1984.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) In 1985, the same year he was named Gainesville-Hall County Young Man of the Year, he became a part-time judge on the Hall County Juvenile Court, serving until 1986.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) • [2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf)
In 1986, Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Story as a judge of the Superior Court of Georgia, Northeastern Judicial Circuit, after only a year on the juvenile court.[2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf) He served as chief judge of that court from 1986 to 1997 and was reelected without opposition in three subsequent elections.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) • [2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf)
## Federal judicial service
President [Bill Clinton](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-clinton) nominated Story to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on September 15, 1997.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) • [3](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-15-story-nominated-to-the-federal-bench-for-north-ga.html) The Senate confirmed him by voice vote on January 28, 1998, and he received his commission on February 4, 1998.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581) He assumed senior status on December 1, 2018.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581)
## Notable cases
In 2006, Story authored two decisions interpreting the First Amendment. In *Pelphrey v. Cobb County*, he held that the [Establishment Clause](https://www.edgepedia.org/establishment-clause) did not bar the practice at issue, breaking from a growing trend of district court decisions on the question.[2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf) The following month, he granted preliminary injunctive relief barring a Georgia sales tax exemption for the Bible and other religious texts.[2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf)
Also beginning in 1998, Story presided over a racial discrimination case brought against the Coca-Cola Company. He oversaw a complicated settlement involving a nine-figure payment, under which a task force was to remain in place for four years; Story subsequently extended its term to five years after Neville Isdell, the chairman and chief executive officer of [Coca-Cola](https://www.edgepedia.org/coca-cola), was impressed with the strides the task force had made.[2](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf)
## References
1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Richard W. Story](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390581)
2. [Hon. Richard W. Story](https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Hon-Richard-W-Story-pdf-3.pdf)
3. [President Clinton Nominates Judge Richard Story](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-15-story-nominated-to-the-federal-bench-for-north-ga.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Se to Sy*
*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license