Honorable James G. Tunison Jr. Delivers Ethics Week Keynote Address at VSU

VALDOSTA — The Honorable James G. Tunison Jr. will discuss Ethics and the Law: An Unfinished Story at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Valdosta State University’s Health Sciences and Business Administration Building Auditorium. This event is open to the public.

Tunison is currently a partner at Slappey & Sadd LLC. He joined the Atlanta-based firm in 2020 and established its South Georgia office in Valdosta. He also serves as associate judge for the Juvenile Court of the Southern Judicial Circuit, and he presides over the Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court, a treatment program for youth in the juvenile justice system.

After graduating from Valdosta State in 1985 and Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in 1988, Tunison established a private trial practice where he represented individuals in both civil and criminal matters. Over the course of 20 years, he gained a wide range of experience in civil damage and criminal jury trials, including more than 80 cases tried to a conclusion by jury verdict.

In 2008 Tunison was elected to the first of three terms as judge of the Southern Judicial Circuit of the Superior Courts of Georgia. In this role he presided over civil and felony criminal trials and heard non-jury bench trials and hearings. He developed and implemented the Lowndes County Pretrial Early Release Program.

Tunison became the first presiding judge for the Lowndes County Accountability Court in 2016. Two years later he was selected to serve as the administrative judge for the Second Judicial Administrative District of Georgia and a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia. He joined the State Bar of Georgia in 1988, the Florida Bar Association in 1989, and the Wyoming State Bar in 1996.

Sponsored by VSU’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, Tunison’s presentation is part of the university’s recognition of Ethics Awareness Week, which kicks off Monday, Nov. 4, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 10.

VSU is committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct. This contributes to the university’s success in promoting a culture of excellence, one that fosters student success in and out of the classroom, cultivates an inclusive environment, impacts regional progress across South Georgia, and sustains the institution for generations to come.

Accomplishing these goals demands integrity, accountability, respect, good judgment, and dedication to public service from all members of the VSU community.

Ethics Awareness Week is an annual opportunity to remind VSU faculty, staff, and students of their commitment to an ethical culture and their shared ethical values and expectations.

Visit https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/audit/ethics-week/activities.php for a complete list of Ethics Week activities.