Jud Turner

Jud Turner is a founding partner of Fortson, Blalock, Turner & Germany. His statewide practice focuses on environmental permitting and compliance, regulatory advocacy, public policy development and government relations. Over the course of his career, he has handled many of Georgia’s most significant environmental matters, including numerous issues of first impression involving the state’s air, land and water resources. Known for his pragmatic approach, Jud works to develop solutions that protect public health and the environment while helping clients capitalize on growth opportunities.

Prior to returning to private practice, Jud completed a decade of public service with the State of Georgia, serving in several senior legal and executive leadership positions. Most notably, he served as Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, where he oversaw the state’s environmental regulatory programs. He also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General, focusing on the landmark United States Supreme Court original action, Florida v. Georgia, involving the equitable apportionment of the waters of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin.

Jud previously served as Director of the Governor’s Office of Interagency Coordination and Management of Water Resources, where he coordinated Georgia’s statewide strategy in the interstate water litigation with Florida. Earlier in his public service career, he served as Executive Counsel and Deputy Counsel to Governor Sonny Perdue, advising the Governor on a broad range of legal and policy issues, including environmental regulation, state budgeting, judicial appointments, procurement, education, ethics and litigation. Before joining the Governor’s Office, he served as General Counsel for the Georgia Department of Education. He began his legal career with Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP in Birmingham, Alabama. Before co-founding Fortson Blalock, Jud was a partner at Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, where he managed the firm’s Atlanta office.

In addition to his legal practice, Jud is widely recognized as one of Georgia’s authorities on water policy and environmental law. His experience includes water allocation, agricultural water use, interstate water disputes, environmental permitting and long-term water supply planning. He currently serves on the expert team at the Georgia Water Policy and Planning Center at Albany State University, where he is helping develop a Habitat Conservation Plan for threatened and endangered freshwater mussel species in the Lower Flint River Basin. In 2024, he was appointed by Speaker Jon Burns to serve on the Georgia House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters.

Jud is also committed to educating the next generation of environmental lawyers. He serves as a Practitioner-in-Residence at the University of Georgia School of Law, where he teaches courses in Water Law and Environmental Law.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Georgia, Jud earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. While at the University of Georgia, he served as President of the Student Government Association.

A native of Albany, Georgia, Jud lives in Griffin with his wife, Courtney, and their two children.