Paul Hawkes

Paul M. Hawkes (born March 6, 1957) is a former judge from Florida who served on the First District Court of Appeal of Florida from 2003 to 2012. Prior to his judicial service, Hawkes was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1990 to 1994.

Hawkes was born in New London, Connecticut, and grew up in Cumberland, Maine. He graduated from the University of South Florida with his bachelor's degree in 1983 and from the Florida State University College of Law in 1985.

After leaving the legislature, Hawkes practiced law in Crystal River. Hawkes was elected chief judge of the court in 2009, and pushed for the construction of a new courthouse. The Judicial Qualifications Commission filed a complaint against Hawkes with the Florida Supreme Court, alleging that Hawkes had engaged in "a pattern of conduct that can only be characterized as intemperate, impatient, undignified, and discourteous," citing allegations of misconduct related to the courthouse construction project. Hawkes resigned from the bench on January 4, 2012.