Judge John MacIver

Judge MacIver's legal experience did not require him to gain experience in court. His experience mostly included supervision and management of cases and attorneys. He also provided legal counsel to clients.

In 2022 he briefly opened his own firm. There is no information on what type of law he practiced in that firm. Before that, he held many legal positions for the state of Florida.

• 2020 - 2022: General Counsel, Florida Department of Financial Services. Appointed by Governor DeSantis. In this role, he provided legal advice to Florida's Chief Financial Officer and managed a legal office of 90 staff members.
• 2019 - 2020: Director and Chief Judge, Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. Appointed by Governor DeSantis. In this role, he reviewed final orders issued by the division. He decided to not hear any cases.
• 2015 - 2019: Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Governor. Appointed by Governor Scott. For much of his time in this role, he oversaw the legal offices of Florida's healthcare and business regulation agencies. In 2018, he was a liaison to state law enforcement agencies. He was the Governor's counsel for extraditions, special prosecutor assignments, and suspension and removal of public officers.
• 2013 - 2014: Assistant General Counsel, Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Appointed by Governor Scott. Also served as Executive Director (2014 - 2015).

He was also a Fellow for Constitutional Studies at the Foundation for Government Accountability (2012), student Attorney at Northwestern University Criminal Appellate Clinic (2010 - 2011), Research Assistant at Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice (2010), Judicial Extern for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (2009).

In 2012, he was a Campaign Field Representative to support presidential and congressional campaigns in Central Florida for the National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action.

From 2002 - 2008, he was Senior Legislative Assistant for then-Senator Bill Posey (R).

In 2001, he announced his candidacy for Florida State Senate, but withdrew prior to qualification.

He was Vice-President of the student chapter of the Federalist Society at Northwestern University School of Law. He has also been Vice-President (2017 - 2019) and Chapter President (2019 - ?) of the Tallahassee Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society.

He has been a member of the American Enterprise Institute (2022 - ?).

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1993 to 1995 with a discharge type of "other than honorable".

He was convicted of driving under the influence in 1999 and 2003 and driving with a suspended license in 1994 and 1998.

Other Previous Employment

In 2014 he received a Law Enforcement Certificate. He was a law enforcement officer for the Florida Department of the Lottery (2016 - 2021) and Florida Department of Financial Services (2011 = 2012).

In 2022 he was appointed by Governor DeSantis to be chairman for the Florida Gaming Control Commission. The Commission, which includes a Chairman and 5 commissioners, enforces Florida criminal gaming laws. In this role he managed 5 commissioners and made administrative decisions about gambling regulation and licensing.

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• Interview: From the Bench: 5th District Court of Appeal Judge John MacIver, Jacksonville Daily Record (2024)
• Article: Chair of Florida’s gambling board turned to gaming lobbyist for job recommendation, Miami Herald (2022)
• Article: Settlement reached, suspension rescinded in Tallahassee judge dispute, Tallahassee Democrat (2020)
• Editorial: ‘180 degree turn’: John MacIver goes from Navy reject to state’s chief administrative judge, Florida Politics (2019)
• Editorial: DeSantis picks a judicial doozy, The St. Augustine Record (2019)
• Article: Gov. DeSantis should reconsider 'unqualified’ judge nominee, Florida senator says, Tampa Bay Times (2019)