Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed John M. Gillies to begin hearing cases in February 2018. Judge Gillies earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 and a Juris Doctor in 1991, both from the University of Florida. From 2009 to 2018, he worked for the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Criminal Division (CRM), Department of Justice (DOJ), serving originally as a detailee from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force as a trial attorney, 2009 to 2013, and as acting associate director, 2013 to 2014; and then as OIA associate director, 2014 to 2018, in Washington, D.C. From 2008 to 2009, he served as a trial attorney for the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), CRM, DOJ, in Washington, D.C. From 2006 to 2008, he worked for the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, DOJ, serving as counsel to the assistant attorney general from 2006 to 2007, and chief of staff from 2007 to 2008. From 2005 to 2006, he worked at NDDS, CRM, DOJ, serving as a trial attorney from 2005 to 2006, and assistant deputy chief for litigation in 2006, in Washington, D.C. From 2003 to 2005, he served as chief legal counsel for the Office of the Honorable Saxby Chambliss, U.S. Senate, also in Washington, D.C. From 2001 to 2003, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada, in Las Vegas. From 1998 to 2001, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia, in Albany, Ga. From 1997 to 1998, he was an associate at Melton H. Little P.A., in Bradenton, Fla. From 1995 to 1997, he served as an assistant state attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Florida Twelfth Judicial Circuit, in Arcadia, Sarasota, and Venice, Fla. From 1992 to 1995, he was an associate at Holland & Knight LLP, in Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, Fla. From 1991 to 1992, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Gerald Bard Tjoflat, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, in Jacksonville, Fla. Judge Gillies is a member of the Florida and Georgia State Bars.