Carl S. Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Carl Stolworthy Hawkins was a prominent American lawyer, law school dean and also a local leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hawkins was the son of William D. Hawkins and his wife the former Wilma Stolworthy. Hawkins was raised in Provo, Utah
and graduated from Provo High School
. He then joined the United States Army Air Corps
with which he served as a radio operator for the Pacific Theatre of Operations of World War II
. On September 11th, 1946 Hawkins married Norma Jean Jones in the Salt Lake Temple
.
Hawkins received his bachelors degree from Brigham Young University
(BYU) in political science. He earned his law degree from Northwestern University
. In 1952-1953 Hawkins was a law clerk to Fred M. Vinson
. While he was at Northwestern he was editor-in-chief of the Illinois Law Review now known as the Northwestern University Law Review
. He was then a Harry A. Bigelow Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago
Law School,
Hawkins then joined the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun, Barker & Hawkins, where he was involved in cases for Native American tribes for payments from the United States government.
From 1957-1963 Hawkins was a professor at the University of Michigan
. While in Michigan Hawkins was a consultant to the state legislature on forming laws. He was also the executive secretary of the Michigan Law Revision Commission and worked with the Michigan Supreme Court
in formulating rules for jury instruction. Hawkins co-authored two casebooks on tort law.
Hawkins served for a time as bishop of the Ann Arbor Ward. He also served as president of the Detroit Stake and then as the first president of the Dearborn Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1973 Hawkins went to Brigham Young University as one of the founding members of the J. Reuben Clark Law School. He was acting dean of BYU's law school from 1975-1977 and dean from 1981-1985 and was a professor there until 1991. Hawkins also was a visiting professor at the University of Georgia
, Pepperdine University
, Washburn University
, and the University of New Mexico
. He also took a two-year leave from BYU to serve as executive director of the Florida Academic Task Force for Review of Insurance and Tort Systems.
Hawkins was appointed to the Judge Nominating Commission of the 10th United States Circuit Court by Jimmy Carter
. He also served on Utah's Alcohol Control Board.
Carl and Norma Hawkins were the parents of five children.
Hawkins was the son of William D. Hawkins and his wife the former Wilma Stolworthy. Hawkins was raised in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
and graduated from Provo High School
Provo High School
Provo High School is a public secondary school located in Provo, Utah. It is one of the schools in the Provo District. It is part of the Provo City School District, and is the oldest existent secondary school in the city...
. He then joined the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
with which he served as a radio operator for the Pacific Theatre of Operations of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On September 11th, 1946 Hawkins married Norma Jean Jones in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
Hawkins received his bachelors degree from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) in political science. He earned his law degree from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. In 1952-1953 Hawkins was a law clerk to Fred M. Vinson
Fred M. Vinson
Frederick Moore Vinson served the United States in all three branches of government and was the most prominent member of the Vinson political family. In the legislative branch, he was an elected member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisa, Kentucky, for twelve years...
. While he was at Northwestern he was editor-in-chief of the Illinois Law Review now known as the Northwestern University Law Review
Northwestern University Law Review
The Northwestern University Law Review is a scholarly legal publication and student organization at Northwestern University School of Law. The Law Review's primary purpose is to publish a journal of broad legal scholarship. The Law Review publishes four issues each year...
. He was then a Harry A. Bigelow Teaching Fellow at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Law School,
Hawkins then joined the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun, Barker & Hawkins, where he was involved in cases for Native American tribes for payments from the United States government.
From 1957-1963 Hawkins was a professor at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. While in Michigan Hawkins was a consultant to the state legislature on forming laws. He was also the executive secretary of the Michigan Law Revision Commission and worked with the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
in formulating rules for jury instruction. Hawkins co-authored two casebooks on tort law.
Hawkins served for a time as bishop of the Ann Arbor Ward. He also served as president of the Detroit Stake and then as the first president of the Dearborn Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1973 Hawkins went to Brigham Young University as one of the founding members of the J. Reuben Clark Law School. He was acting dean of BYU's law school from 1975-1977 and dean from 1981-1985 and was a professor there until 1991. Hawkins also was a visiting professor at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
, Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
, and the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. He also took a two-year leave from BYU to serve as executive director of the Florida Academic Task Force for Review of Insurance and Tort Systems.
Hawkins was appointed to the Judge Nominating Commission of the 10th United States Circuit Court by Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. He also served on Utah's Alcohol Control Board.
Carl and Norma Hawkins were the parents of five children.
Sources
- University of Michigan bio
- article published on Hawkins shortly after his death
- obituary of Hawkins
- LDS Church Almanac, 2008 Edition, p. 237
- Deseret News. May 1, 2010, obituary of Carl Hawkins