Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

James K. Murphy is a Martindale Hubbell BV rated attorney who was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1991; the U.S. District Court, North District of Georgia. He was employed with the Georgia Legal Services Program for seven years where he worked as a Supervising Attorney. He then entered private practice where he has focused on injury cases. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Georgia Trial Lawyers. He has also authored two reports on the insurance industry, How to Buy Car Insurance in Georgia and Mistakes to Avoid if You Want to Win Your Car Wreck Case.

Michael has over twenty five years of trial experience serving Carroll County and the West Georgia area. Michael proudly calls himself a consumer lawyer. He frequently represents consumers in auto fraud and lemon car claims.

Michael has spent the last ten years as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the interests of the State and the County in protecting children in deprivation cases. He spent the previous 11 years as Carroll County Public Defender. Michael has personally tried hundreds of cases before the State and Federal Courts of Georgia. He has also done pro bono legal work for the Georgia Legal Services Program and has been recognized as a "Star Performer" for his representation of women in domestic violence divorces who could not afford an attorney.

Born and raised in Carroll County, Michael is the son of Emery Flinn, Jr. and Elizabeth Flinn. He attended Oak Mountain Academy where he was Valedictorian in 1978. He attended the University of West Georgia with a pre law major and graduated magna cum laude. Michael then attended the University of Georgia School of Law from which he graduated cum laude in 1985.

Michael entered the practice of law in 1985 when he joined the former Word, Cook and Word, Attorneys. They immediately put Michael in Court where he tried jury trials in lemon car cases. One year later, Michael formed the firm of Word & Flinn with Gerald P. Word. Michael and Jerry served as public defenders and maintained a thriving private practice for over ten years. Michael has been in solo private practice for the past nine years.

Michael is married to the former Marni Pinkerton, owner of Ms. Marni’s Pre School. Marni has lived in Carrollton most of her life and is a graduate of the Carrollton City School system and the University of West Georgia. They have three children, Katy, Justin and Logan. Michael and Marni are members of Carrollton First United Methodist Church. Michael has been a volunteer soccer coach with the Carrollton Parks and Recreation Program for over 17 years. He was instrumental in beginning the select soccer program and the four year old program. He was recognized as Athletic Volunteer of the Year in 1997. He was recognized as a Georgia Youth Soccer Regional Volunteer of the year in 2005. In addition to graduating from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy, Michael has served his community as President of the Carrollton Jaycees and as Empty Stocking Fund Chairman for two years. Michael was recognized for his community service efforts with the Crutchfield Memorial Award. Michael has also served on the Board of Trustees of Oak Mountain Academy which his three children attend.

"Consumers deserve and should expect the best from their lawyers. The best in reasoned fairness. The best in integrity. The best in strong enforcement of the consumer laws. Having been raised in a home where I was taught ‘a man’s word should be his bond’, I pledge to uphold that tradition of honesty and integrity and to continue my service to Georgia consumers."

I am an attorney who has completely dedicated my practice to the area of criminal defense. I handle cases ranging from traffic tickets to capital murder. My geographic practice area includes metro Atlanta, west Georgia, and counties south of Atlanta.

DUSTIN W. HIGHTOWER grew up in Carroll County, Georgia where he graduated from Central High School (“CHS”) in 2000. While attending CHS, Dusty lettered in football, wrestling, and baseball. During Dusty’s senior year he served as captain of CHS’s football team along with his cousin Brian Maxwell (now a mechanical engineer at Southwire), and fellow classmate Josh Hubbard. Dusty also received the honor of representing his class as Homecoming King and Mr. CHS his senior year.

Upon graduating from CHS, Dusty attended the University of West Georgia (“UWG”) where he graduated cum laude. During Dusty’s time at UWG he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honors Society, Order of Omega Honors Society, University Ambassadors, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, and the Inter Fraternity Council. Dusty particularly enjoyed the time that he served as President of Recruitment for the Inter Fraternity Council because he was allowed to plan the Greek recruitment process for UWG, and speak at orientation sessions on the importance of networking and how fraternities can assist members in establishing a solid networking foundation. Aside from his multiple on campus commitments Dusty managed to continuously make his grades a top priority. Dusty regularly made the National Deans List, was named an Ingram Scholar, and received the Spark’s Memorial medal (Chi Phi’s highest GPA award) three out of the four years he was in school. Dusty continues to be dedicated to UWG by currently serving on UWG’s National Alumni Association.

Shortly after graduating from UWG Dusty decided to attended law school. Dusty received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from John Marshall Law School of Atlanta. While in law school, Dusty was selected to serve as Notes and Comments Editor on John Marshall’s inaugural law review journal, John Marshall Law Journal. Dusty was honored by having his comment, Student Searches and Seizures: Georgia’s Current Approach and Recommended Change, chosen as one out of only four student pieces to be published. While in law school, Dusty was also a member of the American Constitutional Society and the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity.

Dusty did not only study the law while in law school, he also found ways to practice the law in his community. Under the Third Year Practice Act and the Graduate Act, Dusty returned to Carrollton and practiced law as a prosecutor beside Carroll County Solicitor Mr. Jimmy Tuggle. During his time in the Carroll County Solicitor’s Office, Dusty prosecuted DUI, theft, simple battery, and a variety of other criminal cases.

Dusty also became a certified mediator while in law school. Dusty put his mediation skills to work through an internship with the Fulton County Landlord/Tenant Program. During his time in this program, Dusty was able to mediate over 75 landlord/tenant disputes.

Dusty has now returned to his hometown area to practice law. Dusty is a hardworking, honest, dedicated, and driven individual that will work endlessly to provide you with the legal representation that you deserve. Dusty focuses most of his work on criminal defense where he is able to apply what he learned in the prosecutor’s office in a manner that is beneficial to his clients.

I have years of experience writing appellate briefs. I have written over 40 briefs and litigated over 200 habeas cases. I also have tried many cases including jury and bench trials.

I appply this experience when representing my clients. I have an understanding of the justice system from both sides. I will aagressively fight to get my clients' wrongful convictions overturned.

Judge Hal Moroz is an author and retired Army officer, having served as an airborne Infantry officer. He is an attorney and counselor at law, having represented clients up to and including the United States Supreme Court, a former county judge and city chief judge, and longtime veterans advocate. He is also an educator, having served as a professor at law, and an author, touting "The New Knighthood" by Hal Moroz as his favorite.

Find out more at morozlaw.com or veteranslawcenter.org --- or --- read "The New Knighthood" by Hal Moroz at Amazon.com or any major online bookstore.