The author spotlight
John S.
Hager, Esq.
Founding Partner • Hager & Schwartz, P.A.
A South Florida perspective on criminal defense, shaped by hundreds of trials on both sides of the courtroom.
Explore the firm’s legal insights
Experience & areas of focus
DUI & domestic violence
Prosecution experience with DUI, domestic violence and battery cases, and the evidence they turn on.
Serious felony charges
A background spanning robbery, aggravated assault and battery, sexual battery, drug and theft offenses.
Trial experience
Hundreds of cases tried to verdict in County and Circuit Courts.
Behind the perspective
A career built in the courtroom.
John’s path to the courtroom began in law school, where he was heavily involved in trial advocacy. Immediately after graduating, he became a prosecutor and handled thousands of cases, from DUI and domestic violence to robbery, juvenile matters and probation violations, before moving into criminal defense.
Today, as a founding partner, he brings that understanding of how cases are built and prosecuted to every client he represents, along with a longstanding commitment to the South Florida criminal defense bar.
View John’s full attorney profile
EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
- Early career
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State Prosecutor
Handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases and tried hundreds of cases to verdict in County and Circuit Courts.
- Law school
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Nova Southeastern University
Earned his Juris Doctorate; heavily involved in trial advocacy.
- Undergraduate
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University of Florida
Earned his undergraduate degree before pursuing a career in law.
- Professional service
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Broward County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Served as Vice President from 2000 to 2005 and as President in 2015; has also served on a Florida Bar grievance committee.
From the firm’s blog
Make sense of what comes next.
Recommended reading from Hager & Schwartz, P.A. Explore the questions that arise during an investigation, in court and after a criminal charge.
What Is a Deadly Weapon?
May 20, 2019
It’s important to understand the legal definition of a deadly weapon. Check out our criminal assault blog post to learn more.
Read MorePenalties for Florida Aggravated Assault
April 8, 2019
Aggravated assault is a much more serious charge than common assault. Therefore, it’s important to understand the potential penalties for this charge.
Read MoreDo’s & Don’ts When an Officer Pulls You Over
March 22, 2019
When it comes to interactions with the police, knowledge and etiquette goes a long way. In this post, a Florida criminal defense attorney gives you the general do’s and don’ts of when an officer pulls you over.
Read More“I Didn’t Know They Were Underage”
March 15, 2019
Is “I didn’t know they were underage” a valid defense for sex crimes involving a minor? Find out in this Hager & Schwartz’s blog post.
Read MorePublic Nudity Charges in Florida
March 11, 2019
What do festivals, spring break, and alcohol have in common: they can all lead to instances of public nudity. Therefore, it’s important to identify how and when a Florida police officer can charge someone for public nudity.
Read MoreMoney Laundering and What Constitutes Dirty Money
February 20, 2019
Fort Lauderdale white collar crime attorneys at Hager & Schwartz explain money laundering and “dirty money.”
Read MoreFlorida Sex Laws You Should Know About
February 8, 2019
Convictions of sexual misconduct can lead to severe penalties; therefore, you should know about these Florida sex laws!
Read MorePenalties for Prescription Drug Crimes in Florida
January 29, 2019
Read our blog or contact our Fort Lauderdale prescription drug crime lawyers at Hager & Schwartz, P.A. today to learn about the penalties for prescription drug offenses in Florida.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Psychology Behind False Accusations
January 21, 2019
False accusations of sexual assault can be devastating to the accused, so why do people make false accusations? In this post, we will talk about the psychology behind false accusations.
Read MoreWhen reading isn’t enough
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A criminal charge is personal. Speak with our team about the facts of your case in a free, confidential consultation.
