Michael Pope is an attorney at Rickerson Legal and handles Family Law, Probate, Eminent Domain, and Government Law. Michael Is a prior prosecutor who worked at the State Attorney’s Office from 2019 to 2024. Michael left the State Attorney’s Office in 2024 to join the Florida Department of Transportation where he was a Senior Attorney specializing in Eminent Domain Law. In June of 2024 Michael joined Ms. Rickerson at Rickerson Legal to practice in the private sector.

As a prosecutor Michael prosecuted thousands of cases in several counties which include Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Madison, and Dixie. It was his responsibility to protect the rights of the victims of crimes and seek justice on behalf of the State. Several of these cases were taken to jury trials and non-jury trials in which Michael achieved a guilty verdict on every single case. When Michael left the State Attorney’s Office in 2024 he was a felony line attorney practicing in division A. Upon joining FDOT in 2024 Michael was assigned Eminent Domain cases in Duval, Alachua, and Taylor County. As a Senior Attorney practicing Eminent Domain it was Michael’s responsibility to represent the interest of the condemning authority and ensure a clean and clear title was transferred to the FDOT.

Prior to working in the legal profession Michael worked at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Columbia County as a Precinct Support Specialist from 2015 to 2017. His primary responsibilities were to train poll workers, maintain voting equipment, and manage polling locations. Before working for the Supervisor of Elections, Michael taught grades 2-4 at Pinemount Elementary School from 2012-2014.

Michael Attended Columbia High School with the graduating class of 2008. While at Columbia High Michael dual enrolled at what was then Lake City Community College (Florida Gateway). Michael finished his Associate of Arts Degree at North Florida College in Madison, FL in 2009. He then attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2013. Michael returned to school in 2017 to earn his Juris Doctorate Degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2020.

Michael was born and raised in Lake City, Florida where he continues to reside. He met his wife Lauren in 2010 and was married in October of 2012. Michael is the eldest of 4 siblings, he grew up in a small brick home of off Branford Highway where his parents continue to live. Michael is invested in this area, this is his home and the people here are his friends.