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Attorney

John W. Timmons, Jr.

With more than 40 years of legal experience, and a Martindale Hubbell AV rating, John Timmons concentrates in criminal law, general civil litigation, contract disputes, domestic relations, and personal injury. He has actively practiced criminal law throughout his career and was selected by his peers as one Georgia's Top Lawyers for criminal law for 2014, and he was selected for Legal Leaders, Georgia’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2016.  John has served as lead counsel in approximately 200 jury trials and has tried cases in more than 20 counties in Georgia and the Middle and Northern Federal Districts.

The General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia selected John for the Tradition of Excellence Award in General Practice for 2016.  This award, which has achieved great significance among the community of over 45,000 Georgia lawyers, is conferred to four Georgia attorneys annually in the areas of General Practice, Plaintiff counsel, Defense counsel, and Judiciary. Recipients must be over age 50, have 20 or more years of outstanding achievement as an attorney in the selected category, have made significant contribution to continuing legal education and Bar activities, have a record of community service and have a personal commitment to excellence. 

A graduate of the University of Virginia, John attended the University of Georgia School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1970. He then went on active duty in the United States Marine Corps as a captain. He completed The Basic School at Quantico, qualified as an infantry line officer, and then finished the Naval Justice School at Newport, where he qualified as a judge advocate. He was assigned to the Third Marine Division on Okinawa, where he served as prosecutor and defense counsel trying numerous general and special courts-martial.

Upon his return to civilian life, John moved to Athens and served as the assistant director of the Legal Aid and Defender Society, the University of Georgia School of Law's Clinic, which served as the local public defender agency. Since 1976, he has been in private practice in Athens. He was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1980.

John is the past chairman and trustee for the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia, a past trustee for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, a fellow of the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, the past president of the Western Circuit Bar Association, and the past and present chairman of the Marine Corps Association of Georgia Lawyers.

Active in his local community, John serves on the Athens-Clarke County Library Board and the Athens Regional Library Board, was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Samaritan Counseling Center, and has served as the president of the Athens Historical Society, as chairman of the Parish Council of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and as chairman of the Advisory Board for Athens Area Technical Institute's Paralegal Program.

John received a Proclamation of Appreciation by the Chief Elected Officer and Commissioners of Athens Clarke County for assisting the police in the apprehension of a murderer in 1993.

John lives in Athens with his wife, Barbara Riley Timmons, who is retired from the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. They have four children. He enjoys hunting, fishing, history and rugby. In fact, John lettered in wrestling at UVA and founded the University of Georgia Rugby Football Club in 1968. He was its first president and is an honorary life member. He continued playing rugby, occasionally with the UGA Old Boys side of The Blind Pigs Rugby Sporting Club, until 2009.

Areas of Practice:

Criminal Law

General Civil

Litigation

Contract Disputes

Personal Injury

Litigation Percentage:

75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

Georgia, 1970

U.S. Federal Courts, 1975

U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

Education:

University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia, 1970
J.D.

University of Virginia
B.A.

Honors and Awards:

Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia

Legal Leaders

Georgia's Top Lawyers for Criminal Law for 2014

Tradition of Excellence Award in General Practice for 2016

Georgia's Top Rated Lawyers for 2016

Professional Associations and Memberships:

State Bar of Georgia, General Practice and Trial Section

Past Chairman and Trustee

Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Georgia

Past Trustee

Western Circuit Bar Association

Past President

Marine Corps Association of Georgia Lawyers

Past and Present Chairman

Athens-Clarke County

Library Board

Athens Regional

Library Board

Samaritan Counseling Center

Past Chairman, Board of Directors

Athens Historical Society

Past President

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Parish Council

Past Chairman

Athens Area Technical Institute's Paralegal Program

Past Chairman, Advisory Board

Past Employment Positions:

United States Marine Corps, Captain

Legal Aid and Defender Society, Assistant Director