Clarence T. “Gup” Guthrie III opened The Guthrie Firm, PLLC, in Ridgeland, Mississippi, after practicing several years with a large regional firm and an insurance defense firm. Clarence focuses his practice on the defense of individuals accused of criminal offenses, including driving under the influence, and also helps individuals with issues such as personal injuries and worker’s compensation claims. Finally, Clarence continues to represent corporations and small businesses in litigation matters in Mississippi.
Prior to entering private practice Clarence was an artillery officer and judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps. Highlights of his career include trying over 250 courts-martial as a military prosecutor and criminal defense counsel, serving as a combined arms instructor at the Officer’s Basic Course, and serving as a Battalion Commander of 225 Marines.
Clarence is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, B.A. 1989, the University of Oklahoma, M.P.A. 1996, and the University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. 1999. He is admitted to practice in Mississippi and Alabama, and is a member of the Capital Area Bar Association, the Madison County Bar Association, the Mississippi Association for Justice, and the Mississippi Bar Association, where he has served on the Ethics Committee, and as Chair of the Military Assistance Committee. Clarence also serves as the Criminal Justice Act Panel Representative for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Awards:
AV-Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Mississippi Magnolia Medal – Mississippi National Guard
Education:
Juris Doctor, University of Mississippi School of Law, 1999
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of National Security Law
Legal Research & Writing Instructor
National Moot Court Competition Team
National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team
Master of Public Administration, University of Oklahoma, 1996
Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration
Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Birmingham-Southern College, 1989
Presidential Honors Scholarship
Student Government Association
Admitted to Practice:
Mississippi, 1999
Alabama, 1999
U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
All Military Courts
Memberships:
The Mississippi Bar
Chair, Military Assistance Committee 2007-09
Member, Ethics Committee 2005-08
Alabama State Bar
Capital Area Bar Association
Madison County Bar Association
Mississippi Public Defenders Association
National College for DUI Defense
Mississippi Association for Justice
CLE Chairman, 2009-10
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Publications and Presentations:
“Appealing a DUI Case in Mississippi”
Mississippi DUI Defenders Seminar, Biloxi, MS 2012
“Discovery in Mississippi DUI Cases”
Mississippi DUI Defenders Seminar, Gulfport, MS 2011
“Effective Tips for Appellate Practice”
Appellate Seminar, Mississippi Association for Justice, 2012
“Section 1983 and the Keys to the Courthouse”
The Closing Argument, Mississippi Association for Justice, 2010
“Selected Ethical Issues”
CLE, Military Legal Matters for the General Practitioner, 2010
“Criminal Law Update”
CLE, Mississippi Appellate Courts’ Legal Staff, Mississippi Capitol, 2009
“Current Issues in Criminal Law”
CLE Natchez, University of Mississippi Continuing Education Division, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
“Criminal Prosecution and Defense Practice”
Bridge the Gap CLE, Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division, 2009
“Biker Down! What to Do if You Are in a Motorcycle Accident”
Thunder Roads Mississippi, 2008
“Daubert and Emerging Standards of Expert Testimony”
CLE Natchez, University of Mississippi Continuing Education Division, 2007, 2008
CLE By the Hour, University of Mississippi Continuing Education Division, 2007, 2008
CLE, Mississippi Appellate Courts’ Legal Staff, Mississippi Capitol, 2008
“Issues in Business Law, Including Litigation Avoidance and Covenants Not to Compete”
The Mississippi Bar, Business Law Section, 2007
“Using Expert Witnesses”
DRI Southern Regional Meeting, 2005
Military Experience:
Major, United States Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.)
Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion, MCLB Barstow, California
Judge Advocate, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Civil Law Officer
Chief Trial Counsel
Defense Counsel
Combined Arms Instructor, Officer’s Basic Course, Quantico, Virginia
Artillery Officer, 1st Battalion / 12th Marines, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Battalion Adjutant/Legal Officer
Artillery Liaison Officer, 1st Battalion/3d Marines
Assistant Executive Officer/Guns Platoon Commander, Battery A
Fire Direction Officer/Headquarters Platoon Commander, Battery A
Enlisted Marine, 4th Battalion/14th Marines, Bessemer, Alabama
Personal:
Born Columbus, Mississippi, May 23, 1967
Married 21 years, two daughters
Serious football fan – Auburn, Ole Miss, Saints
Competitive Shooter – NRA, CMP, USPSA
NRA – Distinguished Life Member
For more information, call us at 601 991 1099 or toll-free at 866 991 1555 to set up a free consultation.
