James G. Martin, III – Of Counsel

James G. Martin, III joined Schell & Oglesby after serving two terms as a Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District in Williamson County, Tennessee.  Jim is Of Counsel with the firm and brings with him extraordinary experience and insight from both his sixteen years on the bench and as well as his 35 years in private practice. 

Prior to taking the bench, Jim graduated with Honors from Vanderbilt University in 1971 after a distinguished undergraduate career and service in the United States Army.  Jim then practiced law in Middle Tennessee from 1974 to 2008, primarily focusing on civil litigation with an emphasis on family law.  

In addition to his private practice, Jim served as City Attorney for the City of Franklin for over a decade.  He also represented the interests of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation throughout Williamson County. 

While sitting as judge in Williamson County, Jim continued to serve his community through work on several task forces with the Bar Association and the State of Tennessee.  Notably, Jim worked to revise the statutes and rules which govern the practice marriage and family law. Jim also served as presiding judge for the 21st Judicial District Recovery Court from 2014-2022. 

Since returning to private practice, James G. Martin, III has resumed his focus on general civil and family law matters and has established a strong mediation practice as a Licensed Rule 31 Mediator. With his unparalleled experience in the fields of civil and domestic litigation as both a practitioner and judge, Jim is an invaluable asset to the firm and its clientele.