By Ashley Robinson Facing a criminal charge in Polk County — whether a DUI, drug offense, domestic violence allegation, violent felony, or federal matter in the Middle District of Florida — demands experienced legal representation from an attorney who knows the 10th Judicial Circuit inside and out. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County and sits at the center of one of Central Florida’s busiest criminal court systems, where the difference between a skilled defense attorney and an average one can determine whether a charge is dismissed or results in a conviction.
After thorough research into attorney credentials, client feedback, peer ratings, and professional recognition, here are five of the most highly regarded criminal defense attorneys serving Lakeland in 2026:
1. Thomas C. Grajek — Grajek Criminal Defense Attorneys
Thomas Grajek is the most scientifically credentialed criminal defense attorney in Polk County and one of the most uniquely qualified in all of Florida. He has practiced criminal defense exclusively for over 30 years — never working as a prosecutor — and holds the American Chemical Society (ACS) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation, a credential earned by only four attorneys in the entire state of Florida.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- One of only four Florida attorneys to hold the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation from the American Chemical Society — requiring rigorous training in forensic chromatography, drug pharmacology, breathalyzer analysis, and data interpretation — giving him a scientific command of DUI and drug prosecution evidence that allows him to expose flawed or non-validated science before it reaches a jury.
- Exclusive criminal defense practice across 30-plus years with no prosecution background — a deliberate, principled choice to represent only the accused from day one, combined with a case-results page documenting recent 2024 and 2025 dismissals in DUI, drug, and serious felony matters in Polk County courtrooms.
- Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion recognition with verified client reviews describing him as the attorney other lawyers refer cases to, available at 4 a.m. when arrests happen, and capable of getting charges dropped in cases that initially appeared unwinnable — including a DUI with a 0.197 breath test result dismissed outright in October 2024.
Address: 112 E. Poinsettia Street, Lakeland, FL 33803 | Phone: (863) 688-4606
2. Brian Monk — Monk Law Group, PLLC
Brian Monk is a third-generation Lakelander, a University of Florida Law graduate, and a former Assistant State Attorney who tried nearly 50 jury trials as lead prosecutor before switching to criminal defense. He brings to every case an unusually rare combination: formal legal training, prosecutorial experience, a Master’s degree in Education, and a specialist degree in mental health counseling from the University of Florida — academic depth that informs his handling of complex domestic violence, juvenile, and high-stakes felony cases.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- A 5.0 Avvo score across 67 verified reviews — the highest verified client satisfaction total of any Lakeland-based criminal defense attorney — with clients consistently praising his honesty, his preparation, and his ability to win cases that initially seemed difficult across misdemeanors, felonies, DUI, drug charges, violations of probation, and domestic violence matters.
- Former Assistant State Attorney with nearly 50 jury trials as lead prosecutor, giving him a precise understanding of how Polk County cases are built, where prosecutorial evidence is weakest, and what conditions make a plea negotiation favorable versus when a trial is the right strategic choice.
- State and federal criminal defense practice covering all felonies and misdemeanors, violations of domestic violence injunctions, DUI, drug offenses, and federal criminal matters throughout Central Florida — with offices in Lakeland, Sebring, and Wesley Chapel ensuring broad 10th Judicial Circuit coverage.
Address: 800 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 | Phone: (833) 947-7020
3. Scott K. Spivack — Spivack Law, P.A.
Scott Spivack is a Lakeland attorney with over 30 years of criminal defense experience and one of the most recognized community leadership profiles in Polk County’s legal bar. A University of Miami School of Law graduate who received the American Jurisprudence Award during law school, Spivack has served as Past President of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and reached the level of Master in the Willson American Inn of Court — a Polk County legal organization dedicated to teaching professionalism and ethics to the next generation of attorneys.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- Martindale-Hubbell “BV” rated — indicating high to very high legal ability and very high ethical standards as determined by confidential peer evaluations from fellow attorneys and judges — combined with 30-plus years of continuous Polk County practice and admission to both the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Past President of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and Master in the Willson American Inn of Court — leadership distinctions that reflect deep, long-standing institutional relationships with local judges, prosecutors, and court personnel throughout the 10th Judicial Circuit.
- Court TV legal commentator whose hundreds of jury and bench trials across Polk, Hillsborough, and surrounding counties have produced the kind of local judicial familiarity — with specific judges’ preferences, prosecutorial tendencies, and courtroom culture — that only decades of consistent practice in the same courts can build.
Address: 122 East Pine Street, Lakeland, FL 33801 | Phone: Available via firm website
4. Gil Colón, Jr. — The Law Firm of Gil Colón, Jr.
Gil Colón, Jr. founded his Polk County practice in 1992 after working on both sides of the courtroom — as both an Assistant State Attorney and a public defender in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Over 36 years, he has been involved in more than 500 trials across state and federal courts, including hundreds of death penalty, drug trafficking, and major sex offense cases — a volume of trial experience that places him among the most battle-tested criminal litigators in Lakeland’s legal community.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- Over 500 trials in state and federal courts spanning 36 years, including death penalty cases, drug trafficking trials, and major sex offense prosecutions — a documented courtroom history reflecting trial-tested experience at every level of the criminal justice system, from misdemeanor proceedings to the most serious felony charges that can be filed in Florida.
- Bilingual representation in English and Spanish, with a satellite Lakeland office complementing his primary Bartow courthouse location two blocks from the Polk County Courthouse — a geographic advantage that reflects both accessibility for Lakeland clients and deep familiarity with the judges, prosecutors, and courtroom staff at the heart of the 10th Judicial Circuit.
- Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished peer rating and 2025 client recognition, with verified Avvo reviews describing a practitioner who exposed fabricated evidence, achieved dismissals in cases where clients faced up to 25 years in prison, and provided peace of mind throughout the longest and most difficult cases.
Address: 325 E. Davidson Street, Bartow, FL (satellite office in Lakeland) | Phone: (863) 880-1695
5. Robert Peddy — Peddy Law
Robert Peddy is a third-generation Lakelander and a Polk County native who grew up in Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Auburndale, and Lakeland before returning to practice criminal defense law exclusively in the county where he was born. With over 33 years of licensed practice and a professional background that includes the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, he represents clients across the full range of misdemeanor and felony criminal matters in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Why Clients Choose Him:
- A lifelong Polk County resident and third-generation Lakelander whose family roots in the community give him an understanding of local judicial culture, prosecutorial relationships, and court system dynamics that newcomers to the area simply cannot develop — a local credibility that translates into practical advantages during negotiations and courtroom proceedings.
- 33-plus years of continuous criminal defense practice in Polk County covering all felonies, misdemeanors, DUI, drug charges, domestic violence, and probation violations — sustained commitment to a single community and a single practice area reflecting the depth of expertise that accumulates only through decades of showing up in the same courts before the same judges.
- Member of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association alongside fellow Lakeland practitioners, with a practice philosophy centered on personal attention and direct client communication — qualities consistently valued by Polk County defendants navigating the criminal justice system for the first time.
Address: 4200 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, FL 33813, United States | Phone: Available via firm website
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do immediately after being arrested in Lakeland?
A: Remain silent and request an attorney before speaking with law enforcement. Early attorney involvement — even before formal charges are filed — gives you the greatest chance of a favorable pre-trial outcome.
Q: What court handles criminal cases in Lakeland?
A: State criminal matters are prosecuted in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Polk County, headquartered in Bartow. Federal charges fall under the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Q: Can criminal charges be dismissed before trial in Polk County?
A: Yes — through prosecutorial declination, successful pre-trial motions to suppress or dismiss, or diversion programs. The sooner a qualified attorney is retained, the better the chances of intervening before charges are formally filed.
Q: How long does a criminal case take in Polk County?
A: Misdemeanors typically resolve within a few months. Felony cases can take six months to over a year depending on the nature of the charge and complexity of discovery. Federal cases frequently take longer.
Q: Can a Florida criminal record be expunged?
A: Florida allows qualifying individuals with no prior convictions and eligible charges to petition for sealing or expungement through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. An attorney can assess eligibility and manage the process.