Born in New York City, New York, Spellman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1953.
He was a research assistant to the Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeals of the State of Florida from 1957 to 1958.
He was an assistant attorney general of the Criminal Appeals Division in Tallahassee, Florida from 1958 to 1959.
[1] Spellman was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on July 21, 1979, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to a new seat created by 92 Stat.
His service was terminated on May 4, 1991, due to his death of cancer at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida.