Jim is formerly board certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law from 1996 to 2021 and is “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale Hubbell. He is a member of the Florida Bar’s Probate and Trust Litigation Committee. He has served as past president of the Martin County Bar Association and was appointed twice by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the 19th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission from 2001-2002 and 2003-2007. He served two terms as President of United Way of Martin County and three terms as a member of the Vestry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. He also served four years as a Captain in the U.S. Army JAGC handling courts-martial, including the first of the My Lai Massacre cases to go to trial during the Vietnam War. He graduated with honors from both Wake Forest University and Stetson Law School.