District Attorney General James “Jimmy” B. Dunn Announces Candidacy For Re-election as District Attorney General

District Attorney General, Jimmy Dunn, Announces Run for Re-Election
Photographer – Jeff Depew

District Attorney General James “Jimmy” B. Dunn announced Wednesday, June 23rd, outside the Jefferson County Courthouse that he will be running for another term to serve the Fourth Judicial District that includes Jefferson, Cocke, Grainger, and Sevier Counties.

Dunn is focused on victims’ rights. He received a victim witness coordinator for Jefferson County through a federal grant that his office applied for. He thanked the Jefferson County Mayor, Finance Director, and County Commission for their assistance in obtaining the new position so there is more help for victims in Jefferson County. During his term as District Attorney General, he has applied for and received six victim witness coordinators  total for the district with the help of all of the local governments.

Dunn also mentioned that he has added an Elder Abuse Unit within his office that focuses on the prosecution of abuse and financial exploitation of the elderly. ” These types of crimes are on the rise and my staff and I will continue to reach out in the community to educate people on how to identify and report suspected abuse, Dunn said.”

Prior to being elected, Dunn served as Assistant District Attorney for more than sixteen years. He  graduated from Walters State Community College and East Tennessee State University where he studied English with an interest in teaching and also majored in criminal justice. He graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Later, while working with the Tennessee Department of Safety, he attended Nashville School of Law from 1983-1986.  He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in October 1986 and also admitted to the Federal Bar of the Middle District of Tennessee in 1986. He has also been admitted to the Federal Bar of the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Before he became an attorney, Dunn served his nation by joining the United States Army and serving as a military police officer in Germany from 1966-1968.  He was a member of the 30th Military Police Battalion. He received an honorable discharge in June of 1968.
He and his wife, Karene, have a daughter, Lauren, and a son, Bruce.

Currently, Dunn serves on the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition, which is comprised of the Tennessee Police Chiefs’ Association, the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, and the Tennessee District Attorney Generals’ Association. The Public Safety Coalition works together to improve legislation for the safety of all Tennesseans. Dunn has been elected to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee District Attorney General Conference. As a member of the executive committee, he participates in oversights of the Conference administration, including, budgeting, accounting, payroll, personnel and property management for all district attorney offices throughout the state.