James Johnson interview by Clifford Brooks
1) Please provide me with a bio of you and your law office. Born 1962 in Canton, Georgia, attended West Georgia University, Graduated from Atlanta Law School with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1992. Live in Jasper, Ga. with my wife and 2 children. Attended United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, honorable discharge 1986. Admitted to practice in Georgia State, Superior, Probate, Magistrate, Juvenile courts, Federal Court, Northern District of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals, and Georgia Supreme Court, Member in good standing of Appalachian Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association Counsel for Children. Founding Director, and past Vice-Chairperson for the Appalachian Children’s Center. Worked in City of Jasper Municipal Court since 1996, former city Court Prosecutor, former City Attorney for Nelson, Georgia, former City Attorney for Jasper, Georgia, former Public Defender Pickens County Juvenile Court, former criminal Public Defender Juvenle and Superior Courts, former Special Assistant Attorney General for Georgia D.O.T., served as a Law Clerk to trial court Judge, State Court of Fulton County. Currently a private attorney in Jasper, Georgia.
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2) What fascinates you most about the law? What about it keeps you happy you chose the vocation? What drove me toward the law is a very deep sense of right and wrong, and that good people should not be abused or taken advantage of. I dont like it when it happens to me, and I dont like it when it happens to others. 3) What are a few unknown helpful hints to happiness you wish you’d been told about being an attorney before you got out of law school? My best advice is find a mentor. I had to do it all on my own and I dont recommend it. I was always jealous of the young attorneys coming in to a family business, with all the built-in support. You can go it alone, but it is tough. 4) What do you do to get your mind off the courtroom? By leaving it behind at the end of the day and spending time with family and friends. Think about it, nobody wants to constantly be dealing with problems. But as an attorney, that is your job, working out other people's problems. If you done take care of yourself and limit the stress you will burn out in the legal profession. 5) What are a few things you “dislike” about the legal profession? That I would have to work with attorneys all the time! (There are attorney jokes for a reason) Just kidding (mostly). 6) I understand you went to art school before law school. Did you abandon your creative dreams, or still pursue it to shake off the doldrums of the courtroom? Please slide us a few photos to show you still got what it takes. My decision to abandon art as a career was based on cruel necessity. I saw too many art school grads still roaming the halls, unemployed, months and months later. I had to switch to a career that would pay the bills. I still like to do something artistic for fun, but there never seems to be enough time. I always fantasize about retiring and doing something in the arts-crafts area. Maybe I just need a push. Phone 706 692-7226 Email JTJattorney@gmail.com
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