James E. Polk, J.D., 1968

Attorney

Black and white headshot of James E. Polk, Class of 1968

Class of 1968 | Inducted 2026

James E. Polk graduated from G.W. Jackson High School (1966) in Corsicana, Texas and received his associate of science degree from Navarro College in 1968. He went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in Mathematics and a minor in Physics. He attained his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas at Austin, and continued on to a Masters of Science in Mathematics from UTA.

James has practiced as an attorney of law since 1981 - for a total of more than 45 years. He worked as a U.S. Tax Attorney for the Department of Treasury from 1981-1984 and, since then, has been a solo practitioner. He represents clients in areas of law for medical malpractice, personal injury, criminal defense, family law, probate proceedings, consumer bankruptcy, and trademark infringement from his offices in Dallas and Corsicana, Texas. He also does appellate work, representing clients from the trail court through the appellate courts.

James E. Polk is credited with over 19 published decisions from the U.S. Tax Court; United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Texas Court of Appeals - Texarkana, Texas Court of Appeals - El Paso, Texas Court of Appeals; - Dallas Texas Court of Appeals - Fort Worth, and Texas Court of Appeals - Waco. In general, a reviewing court only publishes 1 in 200 cases it reviews. The published decision means the reviewing justices voted the issues raised on brief and oral arguments were significant and the decision should be published as legal precedence and guidance for future litigants in the same area of law. Those published decisions are on full display for legacy.

James has been married to Fandoretta Giles for 20 years. He has two sons and three grandchildren.