Ballotpedia, Dan Hawkins (Ohio)

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Daniel is from Columbus. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University and a law degree from the Ohio State University College of Law. He is married to his wife, Amy, with whom he has 3 children. Their family attends St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville. 

Daniel previously worked as an environmental judge for the Franklin County Municipal Court and as the director of the special victims unit for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. 

Daniel R. Hawkins currently serves as a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge. He was elected to this position in 2018 and is serving his first term. 

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Wants to ensure neighborhoods in Ohio are safe places to live and work.

Said to ensure transparency, he will write decisions that are "firmly grounded constitution and it's written in such a way that everyday Ohioans can understand."

Supports technology use for judges and courts to adapt to current times and improve efficiency in the court system while upholding integrity.

Wants to "keep politics out of the courtroom..."

Supports the role of precedent in judicial decisions, saying if a prior decision is "clearly erroneous, clearly unconstitutional...we need to overturn that."

- Wants to ensure neighborhoods in Ohio are safe places to live and work.
- Said to ensure transparency, he will write decisions that are "firmly grounded constitution and it's written in such a way that everyday Ohioans can understand."
- Supports technology use for judges and courts to adapt to current times and improve efficiency in the court system while upholding integrity.
- Wants to "keep politics out of the courtroom..."
- Supports judicial restraint.
- Supports the role of precedent in judicial decisions, saying if a prior decision is "clearly erroneous, clearly unconstitutional...we need to overturn that."

Judicial Administration

As of August 7, 2024, Daniel R. Hawkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Philosophy

Community Involvement

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Votes Count, Daniel R Hawkins Supreme Court of Ohio

As a court of common pleas judge, Hawkins reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.

As director of the special victims unit for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, Hawkins oversaw and managed the prosecution of violent crimes against women and children, including sexual assaults, domestic and sexual homicides, child homicides, human trafficking, and internet child exploitation, and oversaw seven assistant prosecutors, and trained law enforcement, medical professionals, and attorneys statewide.

- As a court of common pleas judge, Hawkins reviews the decisions of certain state administrative agencies, issues marriage licenses, administers divorce, spousal support, parental custody, adoption, and eminent domain proceedings, and oversees criminal felony cases, civil suits with alleged damages over $15,000, and cases involving individuals under 18 who are abused, neglected, or parentless.
- As director of the special victims unit for the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, Hawkins oversaw and managed the prosecution of violent crimes against women and children, including sexual assaults, domestic and sexual homicides, child homicides, human trafficking, and internet child exploitation, and oversaw seven assistant prosecutors, and trained law enforcement, medical professionals, and attorneys statewide.

Legal Experience

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Daniel R. Hawkins

Daniel R. Hawkins lives in Springfield, Illinois. He attended Springfield High School and the University of Illinois. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and has a wife and two children.

Daniel R. Hawkins is currently a partner at the law firm Hawkins & Associates. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Jefferson County.

Daniel R. Hawkins has served on the City Council for eight years and is currently a member of the Public Safety Committee. He previously ran for State Senate in 2018.

- The Supreme Court of Ohio has seven justices and serves as the final authority on the Ohio Constitution and Ohio law.
- The Court must accept appeals of cases that originated in the courts of appeals; cases involving the death penalty; cases involving questions arising under the U.S. Constitution or the Ohio Constitution; and cases in which there have been conflicting opinions from two or more courts of appeals.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The justices elect a chief justice who serves as the administrative head of the state's court system, serving a six-year term.
- Justices are elected at large by the voters of Ohio for six-year terms across districts. Vacancies can be filled by the governor's appointment, with staggered elections ensuring that only some justices are elected each year.
- The chief justice earns $174,700 per year and associate justices $164,000 per year.