Attorneys

About

James "Jim" R. Stearns recently retired after more than a decade of service as a Circuit Judge for Pinellas and Pasco Counties, spending his final four years as the Probate and Guardianship Judge. Prior to the bench, he practiced privately in Dunedin and worked for the Office of the Public Defender in Clearwater, gaining valuable jury trial experience.

Education‍

Jim earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, including a semester abroad at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. He received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 1981.

Professional Experience‍

Jim began his legal career at the Public Defender’s Office in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit. He later joined the firm of Peebles, Gracy, St. Arnold and Stearns in Dunedin, where he handled civil trial work, estate planning, criminal defense, and family law. Over the following decades, he co-founded and practiced at St. Arnold and Stearns, Chartered, and eventually launched his solo practice while serving as Of Counsel with Harper, Kynes, Geller and Buford.

Elected without opposition in 2014, Judge Stearns served in various judicial divisions including Civil, Unified Family, Delinquency, Probate, and Guardianship, presiding over all probate cases in Pasco County for four consecutive years.

Affiliations & Awards

• Leadership Pinellas
• Clearwater Bar Association Board of Directors
• President, Dunedin North Rotary & Foundation Board
• Mease - Morton Plant Hospital Advisory Board
• Dunedin Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Anderson High School (2024)
• President, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce
• Member, West Pasco Bar Association
• Multiple local board memberships and community leadership roles