Justice
Daniel R. Hawkins

Justice Daniel R. Hawkins was elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio in November 2024. He is the 164th justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to his term on the Supreme Court, Justice Hawkins served at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, General Division where he earned top ratings from the Columbus Bar Association as well as recognition from law enforcement and numerous community organizations.

Justice Hawkins began his career as an assistant prosecuting attorney at the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. He spent 13 years as a trial prosecutor, the last 10 years serving as Director of the office’s Special Victims Unit specializing in crimes of violence against women and children.

In July 2013, Justice Hawkins was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Environmental Division of the Franklin County Municipal Court. He implemented new strategies to deal with properties that became a magnet for criminal activity such as vacant and abandoned structures and drug houses. He also created a new neighborhood clean-up program directing individuals with court-ordered community service to pick up trash in the community.

Justice Hawkins was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University, earning his law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.