John David Whetstone
SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCES
- Dave has tried hundreds of jury trials in courts throughout Alabama.
- He has handled over twenty (20) bond validations, involving public/private partnerships, such as Colonial Mall, Bass Pro Shops, etc.
- He has handled cases in all courts from Municipal to the Supreme Court.
- He has experience in submerged land cases, serving as Special Counsel to Alabama Department of Conservation Lands Division.
- He served as counsel for the Revenue Department, regarding current use litigation in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
- He brought an action in England and orally argued a case before the Royal Court in Leeds, England.
- He has represented Alabama in many environmental matters.
- Lobbyist for District Attorney, Probate Judges, and Circuit Judges.
- Frequent Lecturer for the Alabama League of Municipalities
David has been selected by every Attorney General or Governor of Alabama, to prosecute cases throughout the State of Alabama, since 1973. He is presently a Supernumerary District Attorney for Alabama.
These experiences have led David Whetstone to an active practice in General Civil litigation, submerged land, public/private financing, Municipal Law, Economic Development, Government relations, and certain aspects of Criminal Law.
Bar Admissions
- Alabama
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Alabama
Education
- The University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- J.D. - 1973
- University of West Florida
- B.A. - 1970
- Major: Political Science
Honors and Awards
- Elected to Executive Committee of Alabama District Attorneys' Association
- Elected on Executive committee of the National Association of Prosecution Coordinators
- Scholarship Award to attend FBI Academy in Washington
- Governor's Conservation Achievement Award - Water Conservationist, 1994
- State Winner of People Against Litter given by the Governor
- Recipient, Award given by Alabama Historical Society for protection of Alabama Historical Sites
- District Attorney of the Year by State Police Association, 1998
- District Attorney of the Year by the Alabama District Attorneys' Association, 2000
- Capital Litigator of the Year for the Southeast United States for the National Association of Government Lawyers in Capital Litigation, 2000
- Selected by the Department of Justice to be a Panelist in a National Symposium Concerning Indigent Defense Systems and Capital Punishment
- Selected by the Alabama District Attorneys' Association to Represent the State of Alabama in National Ethics Meeting at the National Advocacy Center
- FBI Directors' Award for Community Service, 2006
- Appreciation Award from Mobile FBI, upon Retirement, as Dedicated Prosecutor and Crimefighter, 2006
- Appreciation Award from U. S. Attorneys of Southern District, 2006
- Invited to State of Union Speech, 2004
- Elected 4 times to be a Delegate from his Congressional District to the National Republican Convention
- Elected as District Attorney of Baldwin County, Alabama, 1986 - 2006
- Appointed District Attorney of Baldwin County by Governor Wallace, 1984
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Alabama Bar Association, Member
- Baldwin County Bar Association, Member
- National District Attorneys' Association, Member
- Alabama District Attorneys' Association, Member
- Commission to Implement the Judicial Article for the State of Alabama
- Criminal Procedure Commission
- Alabama Criminal Code Revision Commission
- Alabama Model Indictments Commission
- Alabama Commission for Criminal Justice Standards and Goals
- National District Attorneys' Association
- National District Attorneys' Association Grand Jury Reform Commission
- Original Board of Directors of the Alabama Judicial College
- Honorary Faculty Member of the Alabama Judicial College
- Alabama Law Institute Junior League Commission on Child Abuse, Member
- Alabama Law Institute, Member
- Alabama Condominium Commission
- Alabama Sentencing Commission
- Forensic Sciences Advisory Commission
- Committee of Fourteen lawyers who wrote the first Criminal Code of Alabama
- National Association of Prosecution Executives, Executive Committee
Past Employment Positions
- United States Air Force, Sergeant, 1964 - 1968
- Former Attorney General Bill Baxley, Assistant Attorney General
- Alabama District Attorneys Association, Executive Director, 1973 - 1979
- Gulf Shores, AL, General Private Practice
- Gulf Shores, AL, Municipal Judge
- Gulf Shores, AL, Special Attorney General
- University of Alabama Law School, Administrative Assistant
- Alabama Law Institute, Administrative
- State of Alabama, Assistant Attorney General, 1973
- Alabama Office of Prosecution Services, Executive Director, 1975 - 1979
- Baldwin County, Alabama, Assistant District Attorney, 1979 - 1981
- Baldwin County, Alabama, District Attorney, 1984 - 2006
- University of South Alabama, Adjunct Profession
- Adams & Reese, LLP, Special Counsel, 2006 - 2009
Pro Bono Activities
- Treasurer, Active Member St. Andrew by the Sea Church
- Former President of Baldwin County Sports Festival
- Former Coach for Girls' Softball, Boys' Basketball.
- Former Coach Boys' Baseball in Gulf
- Member of the Chamber of Commerce of Gulf Coast
- Former Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Shores Golf Club
- Former Judge Advocate of American Legion, Post 44, in Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Former Rotary Club Member
- Served on the Executive Committee for the Boy Scouts of America
- Vice Chairman of George Bush Alabama Campaign
- Member of Jeff Sessions Transition Team
