The Honorable Jim Turner, Of Counsel to Hance Scarborough, LLP, represents individuals, businesses and trade associations before federal and state legislative and administrative agencies. With more than 35 years of experience in government and related private-sector legal representation, Mr. Turner also represents clients in congressional investigations and counsels clients on federal governmental relations organization and strategies.
Experience
Mr. Turner served for over a decade as a Partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, where he was head of the firm’s Legislative and Public Policy Practice.
Jim Turner served as a Member of Congress from 1997 to 2005, representing the 2nd District of Texas. During his tenure in Congress, he was the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, the Ranking Member of the Terrorism Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, and the Ranking Member of the Government Management, Information and Technology Subcommittee of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.
He was the Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition, a member of the New Democratic Coalition, and a Deputy Whip in the Democratic Caucus. In addition to his work on homeland security and national defense, Congressman Turner co-sponsored major legislation in health care, campaign finance reform, and government technology, management and efficiency.
Prior to his service in Congress, Mr. Turner served in the Texas Senate, the Texas House of Representatives and as mayor of his hometown of Crockett, Texas. He was Chairman of the Texas Commission on Children & Youth, and served on the Texas State Ethics Commission. He was chief of staff to Texas Governor Mark White, assistant legal counsel to Texas Governor Preston Smith, staff assistant to Texas Governor John Connally, and briefing attorney for Texas Governor and Texas Supreme Court Justice Price Daniel. Mr. Turner was a partner in the public law section of Hughes and Luce, LLP and also had a private law practice in Crockett, Texas for many years. He served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Jim Turner is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for public service and has been recognized for his work in the field of homeland security. Under his leadership as Ranking Member, over a dozen in-depth reports with recommendations were issued to address the vulnerabilities of U.S. homeland security.
Mr. Turner holds a BBA, MBA and JD from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been married to Ginny Turner for 47 years. They have two adult children, John Turner and Susan Turner Nold, both attorneys in Texas, and four grandchildren.