Charlene Honeywell
Encyclopedia
Charlene Vanessa Edwards Honeywell (born November 19, 1957) is a United States District Judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
.
, Honeywell graduated from Pompano Beach High School
in 1975. She then graduated from Howard University
in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Honeywell earned a law degree in December 1981 from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
.
public defender's office, and then spent two years as an assistant public defender in the Tampa, Florida
public defender's office. From November 1987 until June 1994, Honeywell served as an assistant city attorney for the city of Tampa, Florida
and then spent six years at the Tampa law firm of Hill, Ward & Henderson, where she was a senior associate from 1995 until 1997 and then a partner from 1997 until December 2000.
appointed Honeywell to be county court judge in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. She served from July 1, 1994 until December 31, 1994, but narrowly lost a bid for reelection in the fall of 1994 to attorney Frank Gomez.
In 1999, Honeywell applied for an opening on the Florida Circuit Courts
, inspired in part by the appointment of Peggy Quince as the first African American
female justice on the Florida Supreme Court
. In 2000, Florida Governor Jeb Bush
appointed Honeywell to a judicial post on the Thirteenth Circuit, which she held from January 2001 until becoming a federal judge in 2009.
nominated Honeywell to fill the seat vacated by Susan C. Bucklew
on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
. The United States Senate
confirmed Honeywell's nomination in an 88-0 vote on November 9, 2009.
Judge Honeywell began active service on November 12, 2009. She currently sits on the Ft. Myers district of the court.
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida serves the residents of thirty-five counties from eight courthouses....
.
Early life and education
Born in Deerfield Beach, FloridaDeerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, USA. The city is named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,018...
, Honeywell graduated from Pompano Beach High School
Pompano Beach High School
Pompano Beach High School is a full magnet high school located in Pompano Beach, Florida, which instructs grades 9 through 12...
in 1975. She then graduated from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science. Honeywell earned a law degree in December 1981 from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
Professional career
From 1982 until 1985, Honeywell served in the Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
public defender's office, and then spent two years as an assistant public defender in the Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
public defender's office. From November 1987 until June 1994, Honeywell served as an assistant city attorney for the city of Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and then spent six years at the Tampa law firm of Hill, Ward & Henderson, where she was a senior associate from 1995 until 1997 and then a partner from 1997 until December 2000.
State judicial service
In 1994, Florida Governor Lawton ChilesLawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
appointed Honeywell to be county court judge in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. She served from July 1, 1994 until December 31, 1994, but narrowly lost a bid for reelection in the fall of 1994 to attorney Frank Gomez.
In 1999, Honeywell applied for an opening on the Florida Circuit Courts
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
, inspired in part by the appointment of Peggy Quince as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
female justice on the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
. In 2000, Florida Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
appointed Honeywell to a judicial post on the Thirteenth Circuit, which she held from January 2001 until becoming a federal judge in 2009.
Federal judicial service
On June 25, 2009, President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Honeywell to fill the seat vacated by Susan C. Bucklew
Susan C. Bucklew
Susan C. Bucklew is an United States federal judge.Born in Tampa, Florida, Bucklew received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University in 1963, her Master of Arts from the University of South Florida in 1968, and her J.D. from the Stetson University College of Law in 1977...
on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida serves the residents of thirty-five counties from eight courthouses....
. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed Honeywell's nomination in an 88-0 vote on November 9, 2009.
Judge Honeywell began active service on November 12, 2009. She currently sits on the Ft. Myers district of the court.