TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and the The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism awarded the 2003 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Award to William Terrell Hodges, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court, Middle District on Thursday, June 26, 2003. The award, recognizing Judge Hodges outstanding contributions to the judicial system, was presented at The Florida Bar Annual Meeting.
Judge Hodges was appointed as a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida in 1971 after thirteen years of private practice with a law firm in Tampa. He received his B.S. and J.D. degrees, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, from the University of Florida.
Judge Hodges served as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida 1982 through 1989, and has been Senior Judge since 1999. He is an outstanding leader among federal judges across the country and has recently assumed the chairmanship of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL) with responsibility for assigning and managing all of the nations MDL cases.
Judge Hodges served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference and was the Eleventh Circuits District Judge representative on the Judicial Conference for an unprecedented six years (the normal term is three years). In addition, Judge Hodges was instrumental in organizing the Tampa Chapter of the American Inns of Court and served as its President from 1987 to 1989.
One of Judge Hodges most notable contributions to the justice system is his method of preparing and publishing the pattern jury instructions now used by the U.S. District Courts in every circuit. He has earned the highest respect of his peers on the bench and represents the highest ideals of professionalism.
Named for U.S. District Court Judge Wm. M. Hoeveler, Miami, the purpose of the Wm. M. Hoeveler Judicial Award is to recognize a judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant. Nominees for this award are judges who have communicated their pledge to the ideals of justice and diligence in inspiring others to the mission of professionalism.
Each fall, The Florida Bar Center for Professionalism solicits and coordinates the award nominees for The Supreme Courts Commission on Professionalism and The Florida Bars Standing Committee on Professionalism. Their mission statement embodies what we believe to be the character of the recipient of this award: to promote the fundamental ideals and values of the justice system and the legal profession and to instill those ideals in the persons serving and seeking to serve in the system.
JUDGE WILLIAM TERRELL HODGES is from Tampa, Florida. I wonder if this Judge Hodges knows George Felos? Hmmmmmmmm