John Spivey - Tavares, FL
Attorney at Washo & Spivey Law Firm
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Tavares, FL
535 W. Main St Tavares, FL 32778
Tavares Criminal Defense Lawyer
Updated: 09/30/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense
- DUI
- Sex Crimes
- Assault & Battery
- Drug Charges
- Violent Crimes
Attorney Information
Overview
John Spivey is a Partner with the Washo & Spivey Law Firm. He is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney. He graduated from Florida State University with an Associate’s Degree, the University of Central Florida with both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree, and the University of Arkansas (Little Rock) where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and took up residence in Lake County upon his graduation from law school. He has tried to jury verdict over 200 cases ranging from misdemeanors to first degree murders where the death penalty was sought. He has conducted jury trials in Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Orange, Volusia and Seminole counties. He previously served as a Partner in the criminal defense firm of Graves & Spivey, Chief Assistant Public Defender of the 5th Judicial Circuit overseeing the day-to-day operation of the five county law office and overseeing the capital division, as Assistant Regional and Conflict Counsel, and Senior Attorney for the Commissioner of Agriculture (Florida Cabinet).
Education
Legal Education
-
University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, Little Rock, Arkansas, January, 1991
J.D.
Honors: Law Journal Scholarship, Full Tuition, Fall 1990
Honors: Legal Services Clinic
Honors: Rule XV Certified Student Attorney
Honors: Legal Research Pool Associate
Law Review: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Journal, Articles Editor, 1991 -
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
Graduate, National Forensic College
Non Legal Education
-
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, November, 1987
Master of Public Administration -
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, May, 1986
B.A. -
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, May, 1985
Associate of Arts -
National Criminal Defense College, Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, Macon, Georgia, June, 1995
Graduate
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- State of Florida, Fifth Judicial Circuit , Inverness, Florida, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Office Supervisor, 1998
- Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture, Florida Cabinet, Tallahassee, Florida, Senior Attorney, 1996 - 1998
- Fifth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida, Tavares Florida, Assistant Public Defender, 1991 - 1996
- Cearley Law Firm, P.A., Little Rock, Arkansas, Student Attorney, 1989 - 1990
- Orange County Planning Department/Office of Management and Budget, Orlando, Florida, Analyst, 1985 - 1987
Classes and Seminars
-
Instructor, Florida Defender Trial College
-
Instructor, Law Enforcement Academy, Bragg Center
-
Lecturer, Florida Public Defender Association
- Speaker, Lake County Public Schools
Published Works
Articles
-
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO)-Pattern Element Does Not Require Multiple Schemes, 12 U. Ark. Little Rock, L.J. 557
-
Survey, Constitutional Law, 13 U. Ark. Little Rock, L.J. 331
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1991
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Specialties and Certifications
- Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, The Florida Bar, 1997
- First Chair Capital Qualified Death Penalty Attorney, Florida Supreme Court
Other Affiliations
- Florida Bar Association (Member)
- Lake County Bar Association (Member)
- Florida Public Defender's Association (Member)
- Florida Bar (Member, Consumer Protection Committee)
- Lake County Teen Court (Judge)
- Lake County Children's Foundation (Former Member, Board of Directors)
- Sumter County Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (Member)
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (Member)
- Practice Qualified, Supreme Court of the United States of America
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Alpha Delta
Photo
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