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Fort Worth Attorney

James M. Whitton

Phone Number:

817.339.2473

Email:

Resume:

Jim Whitton has practiced school law for over 35 years, representing boards of numerous independent school districts and private and independent schools throughout Texas. He advises public and private educational entities in all aspects of school and public law, including employment, student discipline, competitive purchasing, real estate, policy development, elections and open government. He has experience defending educational entities before the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and federal agencies. He is also a frequent speaker at state education conferences and regularly provides training for boards, school administrators and staff.

 

Mr. Whitton is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, signifying the highest level of professional excellence and adherence to the highest ethical standards – a distinction achieved by fewer than 5% of attorneys nationwide.

J.D. University of Houston Law Center, 1979 B.A. University of Texas, 1976
State of Texas, 1979
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
State Bar of Texas
School Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Tarrant County Bar Association
Texas Association of School Boards Council of School Attorneys
National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
College of the State Bar of Texas

Chair, Board of Directors of the Texas Association of School Boards’ Council of School Attorneys (2020-2021)

Super Lawyer in Schools and Education Law by Thomson Reuters, Texas Monthly (2005-2014)

List of Top Attorneys for School and Education Law in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 360 West Magazine, and 76107 Magazine (2017- 2022)

Executive Council, School Law Section, State Bar of Texas (2008-2010)

“Can You Hear Them Now? Tips For When The Cell Tower Companies Come Calling,” Inquiry and Analysis (June 2009)

 

“Unanswered Questions About School Vouchers,” Fort Worth Business Press (October 2002)

“Uncivil Discourse: Managing Disruptive Comments and Complaints in a Time of Unrest” Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention (September 25, 2021)

 

“Can They Really Say That About Me?” Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention (October 1, 2020)

 

“Can They Really Say That About Me?” 35th Annual University of Texas School of Law School Law Conference (February 21, 2020)

 

“School Law Legislative Update”; Fort Worth, Texas (October 18, 2019)

 

“Handling Employee and Parent Grievances”, Everman ISD

 

“Fair and Effective Documentation for Administrators”, Everman ISD

 

TASB Legal Panel “Ask the Attorneys”, Region 14 Education Service Center, Abilene

 

TASB Legal Panel “Ask the Attorneys”, Texas A&M Commerce

 

Legislative Update – March 22, 2018, Education Law Association, Fort Worth Conference

 

“The Real Shark Tank: Questions and Answers on How to Survive and Succeed”, TASA Midwinter Conference, January 30, 2018

 

“Sexual Harassment in the K-12 Environment”, All Saints Episcopal Scholl, January 3, 2017

 

“Counselor legal Issues”, Crowley ISD, October 5, 2016

 

“The Dynamic Duo – Fighting for the Truth, Justice, and the ISD Way”, TASA MidWinter Convention, January 26, 2016; Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards Joint Annual Convention, Houston, TX September 23, 2016.

 

2015 School Law Post-Legislative Seminar, School District Administrator Workshop

 

Have Gun, Will? School Safety in a Post-Sandy Hook World, Education Law Association DFW Regional Conference, 2014

 

2013 Legislative Update, School District Administrator Workshop

 

Are You Sure Your Independent Contractors Are NOT Your Employees? Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Convention and the UNT Higher Ed Law Conference

 

Can You Hear Them Now? Tips For When The Cell Tower Companies Come Calling, Region XI Superintendent’s Program

 

Complying With the Public Information Act, Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI

 

Conducting Meaningful Grievance Hearings, Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI

 

CPS and Custody Issues, Education Law Association, DFW Regional Conference

 

Ethical Issues Relating to Reporting Requirements, State Bar of Texas School Law Section Annual Retreat

 

Keeping Schools Safe When Parents Are The Problem, Region XI and Superintendents’ Study Group, ESC Region XI

 

Off The Record: Answers to Questions We All Want to Know, State Bar of Texas School Law Section Annual Retreat

 

Open Meetings and Grievances, Region XI Principal Preparation Program

 

Stump the Lawyer, University of Texas at Arlington Superintendents’ Academy

 

TASB Legal Update, Region XIV Spring Workshop

 

Who’s Your Daddy? Complying With New Chapter 176 of the Local Government Code, University of Texas School of Law Annual School Law Conference

Board of Directors, The Center for Transforming Lives, Fort Worth, Texas (2017- Present)

Board of Directors, Trinity Terrace Continuing Care Community, Fort Worth, Texas (2002- Present)

Chair of the Church Council, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (2017-2019)

Littlefield Society, University of Texas at Austin

Chancellor’s Council, University of Texas System

Chair of the Board of Trustees, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (2013-2015)

President, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (1995-1996)

Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (1994)

William B. Todd Service Above Self Award, Rotary Club of Fort Worth (2008)

Chairman of the Board, Fort Worth Region of the American Heart Association (1997)

Vice Chairman of the Board, United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County (1994)

Leadership Fort Worth

Practices

100% Results-Driven | 100% Dedicated | 100% Committed
100 Main Street

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