John Derek James

    I graduated from Tulane University in 2005 Summa Cum Laude, with departmental honors in English Literature. I was also admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. I graduated from Tulane Law School in 2008, Summa Cum Laude with honors in Trial Advocacy. I was also a member and then a Notes and Comments Editor for Tulane Law Review, a respected legal journal. 

    While in law school, I obtained valuable experience with both the Missouri Public Defender System and the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic as a student-attorney authorized to practice law on a limited basis pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 13 and Louisiana Supreme Court Rule 20. Through these oppurtunities, I was able to begin practicing in court rooms while still in law school and even obtained my first "not guilty" verdict before I graduated. 

     After graduation, I decided to return home to fulfill my dream of working with my Father, Charlie James. I've been able to learn from his years of experience while gaining extensive court room experience primarily handling criminal defense cases, and, more recently, civil rights cases. 

     After more than 15 years of practice, I've defended thousands of cases, taken hundreds of deposiitons, and continue to try case regularly. I have obtained dismissals and not guilty verdicts in all kinds of criminal defense cases including, but not limited to, DWI, simple possession, possession with intent, assault, abuse, and murder. My civil rights practice focuses primarily on wrongful arrest, excessive force, unlawful incarceration, malicious prosecution, wrongful death, and other cases of police misconduct.