More Than 25 Years in Law: Judge Paul Hawkes

Judge Paul Hawkes is proud to say that he has been a member of the Florida Bar for over 25 years. Throughout the course of his career, not only has Judge Paul Hawkes served as a lawyer and a judge, but he also was involved with the Florida House of Representatives in several different capacities.

During his time as a judge, Paul Hawkes wrote the majority decision in a number of important cases. For instance, in Gridine v. State, 89 So.3d 909 (Fla 1^st DCA 2011), he ruled that a 70-year sentence for a juvenile offender was not unconstitutional. In K.G. v. Florida Dept. of Children and Families, 66 So.3^rd 366 (Fla. 1^st DCA 2011), Judge Paul Hawkes wrote for the majority that a dependent child's mother was not given a fair chance to be heard at a hearing which resulted in a shelter order for the minor child.

Judge Paul Hawkes wrote opinions for the majority that enforced the statutory provision that inmates could lose gain time for making claims that lack merit. In Mitchell v. XO Communications, 966 So.2nd 489 (Fla. 1^st DCA 2007), Judge Paul Hawkes wrote an opinion that helped  clarify workers' compensation cases by stating that only the party who has the burden of proof on the issue must demonstrate record evidence supports the JCC’s ruling.

Judge Paul Hawkes has been involved in a myriad of cases over the length of his legal and judicial career. From the time that Judge Paul Hawkes graduated from the

Florida State University College of Law in 1985, he knew that law was going to be a difficult, but rewarding calling., Because of the help of many others he was able to experience some incredible opportunities to serve his state, his country, and the people within it.