Richard John Cole II

Mr. Cole has been in the private practice of law since 1979 with R.John Cole, II, & Associates, P.A., as its shareholder. Before opening his office, he was an Assistant Public Defender for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1975 through 1977, and First Assistant State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida from 1977 through 1979.  While a prosecutor, he was primarily responsible for homicide prosecutions and the handling of official corruption cases involving law enforcement.

After entering private practice in 1979, his practice has focused on litigation and bankruptcy.  He has handled numerous civil litigation matters, and hundreds of bankruptcies.  His practice has involved representing individuals and corporations in litigation and bankruptcy issues, and he has also handled numerous family law matters representing both husbands and wives as they sort through the problems inherent in the divorce process.

He was an undergraduate major in speech obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University, and he received his J.D. degree with honors from the University o`11f Florida College of Law in 1974.  While in law school, Mr. Cole was a member of the law review, and was awarded the American Jurisprudence “Book” Award in Creditors’ Rights.

Mr. Cole has admitted to The Florida Bar and the Bars of the United States Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  He is a member of the Federal Court Practice Committee of the Florida Bar since his appointment to it in 2005.  He is also rated "AV," the top rating given by the lawyer rating service, Martindale-Hubbell, Inc.  Mr. Cole has lectured in the area of bankruptcy, collection and on similar topics.

            While in law school, Mr. Cole was a member of the University of Florida Law Review, became was selected for membership in the Order of the COIF at graduation. The Order of the COIF is a national honorary society for the top 10 percent of law school graduates nationally in law classes in the United States in the year of a member’s graduation.  He was also a member of the Fletcher Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa legal fraternity, serving as its president during his senior year.  Additionally, he was selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, the national legal honorary society.  He received the American Jurisprudence 2nd Book Award in creditors’ rights and estate taxation while in law school; he was an honors graduate from the University of Florida law school in 1974.

            Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Cole served in the United States Navy for four years achieving the rank of lieutenant.  Those tours of duty saw him at sea in various forms on naval combatant ships, including aircraft carriers, destroyers and a cruiser.  Mr. Cole is also presently a member of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, the Sarasota County Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute participating in numerous activities with those groups.  As an AV rated lawyer, Mr. Cole attempts to provide the highest quality services for his clients.  He became Board Certified in the area of consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification in 2004.  The ABC is accreditied by The Florida Bar.  Mr. Cole is a third-generation Floridian, whose relatives reside throughout the State of Florida.