Paul Hawkes looks back fondly on an exciting and meaningful legal and political career. It was over 25 years ago that Paul Hawkes first became a member of the Florida Bar Association, an organization, which has allowed him to serve in numerous positions of importance, as a public servant.

Paul Hawkes was a student at both the University of South Florida and of Florida State University. His interest in the law began to take off during his undergraduate tenure at USF, which helped to instill in him the importance of both the law and of public service. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from USF in 1983, graduating Cum Laude, and continued his pursuit of a legal career as a law student at Florida State University. It was from the FSU College of Law that he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1985. Paul Hawkes made his first foray into the law as an Assistant State Attorney, which provided him the incentive and the interest he needed to transition into politics.

Paul Hawkes first ran for political office in 1988. Though unsuccessful with his first campaign for a Florida State Representative seat, he persevered, earning a spot in the state legislature in 1990. Paul Hawkes was elected to his position in the state House twice, and was later retained as Special Counsel and Advisor by two House Speakers. A respected and trusted advisor of both Daniel Webster and of Tom Feeney, Hawkes continued to play an instrumental role in the legislature’s decision-making process, earning a strong reputation as a trusted and influential voice in the state capitol. Paul Hawkes was able to use his experience in Tallahassee to obtain a position with then-Governor Jeb Bush, who offered him the chance to serve in the Office of Policy and Budget in 2000. Hawkes took full advantage of this new opportunity to serve his state, providing advice and counsel on better ways to optimize state-run programs.

In 2003 Paul Hawkes was nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission, and then appointed by Governor Bush to a position on the Florida First District Court of Appeal. His peers on the court gave Judge Hawkes the honor of electing him Chief Judge for a term beginning in 2007. Paul Hawkes served on the court for nine years.