David R. Carmichael, BCS., Esq. is an exceptionally experienced trial lawyer who uses his courtroom experience to guide his corporate, municipal and individual clients’ cases to successful resolutions. He has completed several hundred civil and criminal jury trials, thousands of non-jury trials and evidentiary hearings, hundreds of mediations, nearly one hundred appeals and Writs, as well as dozens of arbitration proceedings. He has appeared at the United States Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court, the 1st, 2nd and 6th DCA, federal trial courts and state circuit and county courts.
David dedicated a decade of leadership as a senior executive with the Office of the State attorney, where he served as a Special Prosecution Director. He tried capital cases, implemented the Kayla McKean Act, then created the procedures for, and successfully tried three of the first four Jimmy Ryce Civil Commitment trials in Florida. He then transitioned into his role as a Partner with Polk Counties Oldest Law firm, Boswell & Dunlap.
David assumed responsibility for defending the Polk County School District from litigation in 2005 and continues to do so to this day. But his role with the district grew over the decades, recently he served as the Acting School Board Attorney, and now handles all Labor and Human Relations matters for the District; EEOC cases, as well as appeals and arbitration matters, while still providing advice and counsel to the Board and Superintendent.
David continued to have success in litigation for clients at all levels, leading ultimately to being asked to serve as the interim police attorney for the City of Lakeland Police Department. This interim label was removed in 2017, and David serves as Police General Counsel to date—his success in that position leading to him being retained by each Polk County municipal Police Department and Florida Polytechnic University to act as their General Counsel and serve as a Magistrate.
David served on numerous Bar grievance committees, acting as Chairman twice, which led to him acquiring the expertise to provide representation to attorneys navigating Bar Discipline. With his Courtroom and appellate experience to draw on, Bar discipline has become one of his primary areas of practice.
Finally, his service with law enforcement and extensive litigation experience, coupled with his time working with municipal Boards have allowed him to serve along with his Partners as the Board attorney for the Polk State College, and various local municipalities.
If you are in need of a highly experienced and litigator, David R. Carmichael BCS., Esq. may be the right attorney for you.
Notable Experience:
Florida Supreme Court Certified Bar Dispute Mediator.
Board Certified in Criminal Trial Litigation.
Two (2) Time Chairman of the Tenth Circuit Grievance Committee.
Member of the Florida Association of Police Attorneys.
Founding Member of the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association.
Various community Boards and service on the Chamber of Commerce.
Practice Areas:
Civil Litigation for Private Clients
Representation of Florida Bar members in Bar discipline proceedings.
General Counsel for the City of Lakeland Police Department
Duties: Nuisance Abatement Boards, Risk Protection Order Hearings, Training, Pursuit Review Boards, Labor relations, forfeiture and Seizure cases, drafting MOU’s and Contracts, advising agency at all levels.
Providing General Counsel services service for eight (8) other Police Departments; Cities of Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Haines City, Winter Haven, and Florida Polytechnic University. This work includes RPO’s, Training, Legal Updates, Forfeitures and Miscellaneous services.
Traffic Magistrate for the City of Lake Wales Redlight and Speed Zone Camera systems.
Acting General Counsel for the Polk County School District from August 2024 through June of 2025.
General Liability Defense for the Polk County school District (2005 to Present) and Employee Arbitration, Labor and discipline matters, EEOC and Florida Commission on Human Relations cases, Miscellaneous Appellate matters
Polk State College, acting as General Counsel, drafting contracts and MOUs.
Miscellaneous Private clients in General Civil Litigation matters.
