J. karl Trucks

Intro: In 2023, J. Karl Trucks joined Wettermark Keith as a personal injury attorney. Prior to his employment at WK, Karl headed his own practice, Trucks Law, where he specialized in civil and criminal defense. Karl has an excellent reputation in Panama City and an outstanding track record of achievements. His decades of experience and accomplishments make him a perfect fit to lead our Panama City office. We’re proud to have him on our team!

Background: Karl was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating from Vestavia Hills High School, he attended the University of South Alabama and Auburn University before earning his BA in 1990 - with a perfect 4.0 - from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he held a spot on the Presidential Honor Roll for a total of nine semesters.

Karl continued on to the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he earned his JD. During his time in law school, Karl was appointed to the prestigious Order of the Barristers for excellent courtroom advocacy, served on the Cumberland Trial Advocacy Board and Cumberland Moot Court Board, won the Haley Federal Court Trial Competition, and was listed in Who’s Who of American Law Students. He was one of only three students selected to compete on the Cumberland National Moot Court Team, which advanced to the national finals in New York City in 1994. His success in this competition earned him the United States Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Medal for Excellency in Advocacy.

After his graduation from Cumberland School of Law in 1994, Karl passed the Florida and Alabama bar and began practicing Worker’s Compensation law in Florida. The next year, he gained experience advocating for personal injury clients. In 1997, Karl opened a private civil and criminal defense practice, where he served decades of Panama City clients. Karl belongs to a number of distinguished legal organizations, including the American Bar Association, the St. Andrew Inn of Court, the Bay County Bar Association, and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Karl’s “Why”: Although Karl was the first person in his immediate family to attend college, his uncle had his own law practice. From a young age, Karl was inspired by his uncle’s work ethic and ability to help clients out of difficult situations. The desire to become a lawyer and willingness to take on responsibility was instilled in him from a young age. As a teenager, Karl worked at his uncle’s office, and in law school, he clerked there as well. Karl firmly believes that everybody deserves counsel, no matter how complex or serious their situation and he takes an open, compassionate approach with each one of his clients. 

Bar Admissions:

• Alabama State Bar
• Florida State Bar

Just For Fun: Karl is nothing if not active, both in and out of work. The majority of his relaxation time is spent with his two sons, supporting their sports activities and coaching their youth football and baseball teams. Outside of that, Karl keeps in shape and boosts his moods with marathons and triathlons - and has twice completed the notoriously challenging Florida Ironman. Lastly, Karl enjoys cooking, history and traveling to historically significant places.