James Lawrence Getz (September 14, 1821 – December 25, 1891) was an American newspaperman and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1867 to 1873.

James L. Getz was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Getz was elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth, Forty-first, and Forty-second Congresses.

After leaving Congress, he again engaged in the newspaper business.

He served as city comptroller of Reading from 1888 until his death there in 1891.