VALDOSTA — Swearing in Jim Tunison as the newest Southern Judicial Circuit judge Monday afternoon, retiring Judge H. Arthur McLane said, “It’s not often you get to swear in the guy who put you in the unemployment line.”

Having McLane administer the oath was a special moment for Tunison.

“Many years ago,” Tunison said, “in this same courtroom, Judge McLane first swore me into practice law.” Tunison continued, saying that he promised to do this job as he has done all his other jobs, “with honesty, integrity, and respect for people.”

In November, Tunison defeated Gregory Voyles for the position of superior court judge of the Southern Judicial Circuit. Tunison and Voyles threw their hats into the ring last summer when McLane announced he would not seek another term and would be retiring after 25 years as a superior court judge.

As a judge on the Southern Judicial Circuit, Tunison will serve Lowndes, Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, and Thomas counties. Tunison will serve a four-year before the position comes up again for election.

On Monday, in the Lowndes County Courthouse, Tunison thanked his family and friends for their support, as he had done after winning the position in November. A native of Valdosta, Tunison graduated from Valdosta State University and earned his J.D. degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

Tunison has practiced law since 1988 in both the criminal and civil courts and in both state and federal jurisdictions. He has practiced in Georgia state courts, U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, Florida state courts, the Supreme Court of Georgia, U.S. Claims Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and Wyoming state courts.

Previously, Tunison served as chairman of the Central Valdosta Development Authority, on the Valdosta-Lowndes County Historical Society board, as a volunteer coach and as a member of The Haven’s advisory board. Tunison and his wife, Brice, live in Brooks County with their three children. He is the son of Mary Tunison and the late Jim Tunison.