R. Waylon Thompson is a founding partner of Manuel & Thompson, P.A. in Panama City, Florida, and is a graduate of Auburn University and Cumberland School of Law/Samford University. He has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar since 1999 and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 2001. He has an “AV” Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell. His practice areas include personal injury, wrongful death, bad faith, products liability, nursing home liability, insurance disputes, civil litigation, and premises liability.
He is admitted to practice in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Northern District and Southern District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Thompson has served as General Counsel for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office since February 2019. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Florida Justice Association (FJA) and has served on its Board of Directors since 2015. He is the President Elect of the FJA, a title he has held since June 2024. He has been an Eagle Member since 1997 and a recipient of the “Wings of Justice Award”, the “Legislative Shoe Leather Award”, and the “Lawyer to Legacy 2015 Bronze Eagle Award.” Mr. Thompson is also a member of the Bay County Bar Association, past President and past member of Board of Directors; and the American Justice Association, member since 1995. In 2017, Mr. Thompson was appointed to the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Northern District of Florida by both Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. He was reappointed by Senator Marco Rubio in 2021 to serve on the Federal Judicial Advisory Commission for the Northern District of Florida’s 117th Congress. In 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel by Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers, United States District Court, Northern District of Florida.
Mr. Thompson served on the Board of Directors for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce from 2015-2018 and was presented with the 2017 “Member of the Year” award for outstanding service. He is also a member of the First Baptist Church Panama City, Deacon Chairman 2011 – 2013; Bay Haven Charter Academy, Board of Directors since 2009; Florida Bar Justice Teaching Program, volunteer teacher since 2007; Panama City Rescue Mission, Board of Directors 2007 – 2014; Rotary Club, Downtown Panama City – Paul Harris Fellow Recipient (Rotary Foundation).
