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Paul Hawkes
Paul M. Hawkes was a judge on the Florida First District Court of Appeal.[1] He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush on January 2, 2003 and was retained by voters on November 2, 2004.[2] He was retained again by voters on November 2, 2010 to a six-year term that began on January 4, 2011.[3] [4] He retired from the court on January 4, 2012.[5]
Charges filed against judge
In May 2011, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission filed charges against Hawkes, stemming from his participation in the construction of a new courthouse for the First District Court. In the notice, the judge was accused of: destroying public documents related to construction, using a court employee for a private matter, requesting gifts from private vendors and using a 'coercive and intimidating leadership style."[6]
Response to charges
In July, Hawkes' lawyers insisted that the charges be dismissed. Judge Paul L. Backman, chairman of the panel, rejected the dismissal sought by the defendant's legal team. The commission intended to conduct a hearing to determine Hawkes' fate.[7][8]
Resignation
Hawkes announced his resignation from the court before a hearing on the charges commenced. Because he will no longer be a member of the judiciary, the investigation will end.[9][10]
Military service
From 1975 to 1978, Hawkes served in the U.S. Air Force.[1]
Education
Hawkes earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 1983 and went on to receive his J.D. from Florida State University in 1985.
Political career
Hawkes served districts 26 and 43 as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1990 to 1994. He worked in the Executive Office of the Governor in 2000 and was the Chief of Policy for the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2002.
Career
Paul Hawkes began his legal career in 1986 with the law firm Rumberger, Kirk, Caldwell, Cabinas & Burke PA. From 1986 to 1988, he was an assistant state attorney for the 5th Florida Judicial Circuit. After this, he worked as a private practice attorney in Crystal River from 1988 to 2000.[1]
2010 election
Hawkes was retained on November 2, 2010 with 54.16% of voters in favor.[3][11]
- Main article: Florida judicial elections, 2010
See also
- News: Two judicial openings in Florida due to misconduct, November 21, 2011
- News: Charges filed against Florida judge Paul Hawkes, May 23, 2011
- News: Action pending against Florida appellate judges, April 20, 2011
- Florida District Courts of Appeal
External links
- Florida First District Court of Appeal, "Judges"
- Tampa Bay Times, "Judicial Qualifications Commission wants future jurisdiction for former Judge Paul Hawkes," January 4, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Judge Hawkes Bio Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "bio" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2004 General Election Results
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Florida 2010 Unofficial Election Results:Hawkes
- ↑ Florida Constitution, Article V, Section 10
- ↑ Tallahassee.com, "Judge Paul Hawkes to resign in January," November 16, 2011
- ↑ The Miami Herald, "Panel flays judge over lavish courthouse construction," May 17, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Tampa Bay, "Appeals court judge in Taj Mahal case seeks dismissal of charges," July 16, 2011
- ↑ Tampa Bay, "Judge's effort to dismiss 'Taj Mahal courthouse' charges rejected," July 23, 2011
- ↑ Tallahassee.com, "Judge Paul Hawkes to resign in January," November 16, 2011
- ↑ Miami Herald, "High court drops case against "Taj Mahal" judge," January 17, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, 2010 Candidate List
