Hon. James G. Tunison

James G. Tunison, Jr. joined Slappey & Sadd, LLC as a partner in 2020, launching the firm's South Georgia office located in Valdosta. Prior to this role, he was elected as a judge in the Superior Court of Georgia in 2009, serving the citizens of the five-county Southern Judicial Circuit. He was re-elected without opposition for two additional terms.

During his tenure as a judge, Jim presided over both civil and felony criminal trials, as well as non-jury bench trials and hearings. In his first year, he developed and implemented the Lowndes County Pre-trial Release Program. By 2016, he became the first presiding judge on the Lowndes County Accountability Court, overseeing drug court, mental health court, and veteran’s court.

In 2018, his peers selected him as the Administrative Judge for the 2nd Judicial Administrative District of Georgia, and he became a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia, representing the 2nd District within the Administrative Office of the Courts. As part of the Council of Superior Court Judges, he served on the executive committee and contributed to the Pattern Jury Instruction Committee and the Uniform Rules Committee. He notably served as vice-chair during the revision of Rule 22 and Rule 41.

Before his judicial career, Jim practiced privately for two decades, focusing on trial law. He represented clients in civil disputes and defended them in criminal cases, handling matters such as fault, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (E.R.I.S.A) claims, and cases under 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983. His extensive trial experience includes over 80 cases concluded by jury verdict.

Jim is admitted to practice law in all Georgia courts since 1988 and in Florida.