Mr. Payne earned a Bachelor of Business and Administration degree in 1973 from Georgia State University and successfully received his Jurist Doctorate degree from Stamford University in 1977. He is very active in the community and among his professional associations are: the GA Trial Lawyer Association, GA Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, State Bar of Georgia, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Habitat for Humanity, DeKalb Bar Association of Trial Lawyers of America.