James B. Franklin
James (“Jimmy”) has been practicing law in the state of Georgia for over 50 years and has held virtually every leadership position in the State Bar of Georgia while maintaining a successful private law practice and serving as a mediator to help resolve numerous cases.
Attorney Profile
Since graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1964, Jimmy has had an active law practice representing clients in matters involving personal injury, real estate, probate, banking, workers’ compensation, criminal and commercial litigation. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and practiced in both state and federal courts, on the trial and appellate levels. In addition to automotive and tire manufactures, Jimmy has litigated against major hospitals, healthcare providers, banks, real estate management companies, and real estate developers. Jimmy has represented clients in matters involving the Federal and Georgia False Claims Acts and the Georgia Fair Trade Practices Act.
Before Franklin Law was formed, Jimmy founded one of the largest firms in Bulloch County, where he resides. For over ten years he served as the attorney for Bulloch County. Jimmy served as part-time U. S. Magistrate for the U. S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia. For almost two decades, Jimmy served as a Special Assistant Attorney General to the State of Georgia to assist in litigation and other matters.
Outside of representing clients, Jimmy has served the legal profession as an active member of the State Bar of Georgia, serving its highest office as President of the State Bar from 2001-2002. Jimmy has also dedicated his time to the State Bar by chairing many boards and participating in numerous committees, including the Board of Governors Executive Committee, Disciplinary Board, Fee Arbitration and Judicial Compensation Committees, General Counsel Overview Committee, Education and Planning Committee, and the Advisory Committee on Legislation. Prior to his election as Bar President, Jimmy served two separate tenures as Secretary of the State Bar.
Jimmy currently serves as Chairman of the Federal Judicial Appointment Screening Committee, which is appointed by U.S. Senators Isakson and Perdue to make recommendations to the Senators for appointments by the U.S. President for federal judgeships in Georgia. Jimmy also served several tenures, at the request of the Governor, as a member of the State’s Judicial Nominating Commission, a committee charged with interviewing and recommending applicants for open State and Superior Committee judicial seats in Georgia. He has also served on the Judicial Qualifications Commission, an independent State Commission responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and for disciplining judges in the State of Georgia.
Over the course of his career, Jimmy has been honored with countless awards for his excellence in service to the legal profession, including the State Bar of Georgia’s “Distinguished Service Award”, which is the highest recognition given by the State Bar for devotion to the legal profession. He was the recipient of the Supreme Court of Georgia’s “Amicus Curiae Award” in recognition of distinguished service and contribution to the administration of justice. The State Bar’s General Practice and Trial section also awarded him with the “Tradition of Excellence Award.”
Jimmy has also served as President of the Georgia Bar Foundation and as trustee for the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. He is a loyal alumnus of the University of Georgia School of Law, having served as the Law School Association Counsel’s President and as a member of the School’s Board of Visitors. He was honored with the Law School’s “Distinguished Service Scroll Award” and has repeatedly been recognized in the Georgia edition of the annual Super Lawyers publication.
Honors and Awards
- Amicus Curiae Award
- Supreme Court of Georgia Award for Distinguished Service to Judicial System
- State Bar of Georgia “Distinguished Service Award”
- State Bar of Georgia’s Highest Recognition for Service to Legal Profession
- “Tradition of Excellence Award”
- State Bar of Georgia, General Practice and Trial Section
- Distinguished Service Scroll Award
- University of Georgia School of Law
- Georgia’s Super Lawyers honoree
Bar/Professional Activities:
- State Bar of Georgia
- American Bar Association
- Bulloch County Bar Association
- Chairman of the Federal Judicial Appointment Screening Committee
- Past President of the State Bar of Georgia
- Past President of the Georgia Bar Foundation
- Former Trustee for Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
- Former member of the Judicial Nominating Commission
- Former member of the Judicial Qualifications Committee