John Michael Phillips (born February 4, 1975) is an American lawyer, consumer and civil rights advocate, and legal commentator. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Washington, DC. Phillips has been lead counsel in numerous nationally reported cases. He successfully represented Lucy McBath and Ron Davis after the shooting of Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, Florida. He prevailed as lead counsel for Omarosa Manigault Newman in litigation filed against her by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. As a result, the Campaign was assessed Phillips’s legal fees and costs, totaling over $1.3 Million and agreed to invalidate all of the Campaign's NDAs. He also is lead counsel for Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, and is featured in four episodes of the second season of the Netflix show Tiger King.
Political life and civic career
In 2015, Phillips was nominated by the Mayor of Jacksonville to the City's Human Rights Commission. Not without controversy, a Brunswick, Georgia pastor once asked the Mayor to force Phillips to resign his position, claiming he was biased, saying Phillips "has shown he cannot be a fair person and serve on the city's Human Rights Commission". The mayor's office sided with Phillips and he remained on the Commission. On November 14, 2017, Phillips resigned from the Commission in order to relieve any perceived conflict before filing multiple civil rights lawsuits against the City of Jacksonville. During one of those lawsuits, during a deposition of the elected Sheriff, Phillips offered to settle the case if he apologized for the police brutality on video. The Sheriff obliged.
In 2016, he was named one of the 29 most influential people in Jacksonville, Florida by Folio Weekly. He is very active in community outreach.
On January 10, 2023, Phillips announced he was running for city council, In Jacksonville's District 7, which includes downtown and the sports complex. In his announcement, Phillips said, “It’s time for a change. We must bring compassion and action to a city which needs more unity and less crime.” He is kicking off his campaign Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at his law office, Phillips & Hunt, in downtown Jacksonville.
Legal career
Jordan Davis shooting
In 2012, Phillips was hired by Ron Davis and Lucy McBath after the shooting of Jordan Davis by Michael Dunn. The murder stemmed from an argument over loud music on November 23, 2012. Police say 45-year-old Michael Dunn fired 10 times at a vehicle in which 17-year-old Jordan Davis was a passenger just after 7:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Florida. Michael Dunn was convicted of Jordan Davis's murder after two trials and remains behind bars. Jordan's death made news around the nation much like the murder case of Trayvon Martin. Phillips' perspective and a photo with the family appeared in Rolling Stone magazine in 2013.
Although Joy Reid once described Phillips as "a white, lifelong Republican with an Alabama drawl, who like 1.5 million Floridians, has a concealed carry permit," he is frequently praised for his fight for equal rights and is often quoted as saying, he's "not Republican, not Democrat, but reasonable." Phillips's experiences led to a TEDx speech, which has amassed over 300,000 views. Additionally, he received a feature by BET online, spotlighting Phillips as a civil rights advocate.
On January 10, 2023, Phillips announced a run for City Council. In his announcement, Phillips said, “It’s time for a change. We must bring compassion and action to a city which needs more unity and less crime.”
Featured in Abigail Disney documentary: The Armor of Light
Phillips still remains close with the Davis / McBath family and uses the example of Jordan Davis to encourage people to be more civil with each other. His family was featured in an Emmy award winning documentary by Abigail Disney, the daughter of Roy O. Disney and niece of Walt Disney. The movie is called The Armor of Light and features Phillips' story alongside his client Lucy McBath and Reverend Rob Schenck. The film premiered at Tribeca and went on to receive much acclaim. In 2017, it won an Emmy Award for best "Outstanding Social Interest Documentary."
Lawyer for individuals associated with Tiger King
Tiger King was a docuseries which aired in 2020 on Netflix. It featured the contentious relationship between Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, as well as the disappearance of Carole Baskin's ex-husband Don Lewis.