Judge Michael E. Spitzer, 21st Judicial District Circuit Judge, Division V, was born in Jackson, Tennessee, and remained a resident of Jackson until he began his college work in 1968. Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee at Martin, Spitzer began his professional career as a schoolteacher for a self-contained 8th grade class and subsequently became a principal in the Lewis County school system. During law school and upon his graduation from the law school at Memphis State University in 1982, Spitzer worked in the general counsel’s office for United Inns of Memphis until he returned to Hohenwald, Tennessee, where he had been a school teacher and principal to begin his legal career with the firm of Keaton, Turner, & Spitzer. Spitzer remained with this firm until the death and retirement of his partners in 2004, at which time he continued as The Spitzer Firm, later Spitzer & Heath, after taking on a partner. Spitzer was appointed Circuit Judge by Governor Bill Haslam in September of 2018 to fill the vacancy in the newly-created Division V of the 21st Judicial District, primarily serving Hickman, Lewis, and Perry Counties. Spitzer was appointed Commission Chair of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program in June of 2019.