Poor Retention Vote Takes Toll on DCA Judge Paul Hawkes

Feeling heat from voters and even fellow judges, 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes has stepped down as chief of the court.

His move comes amid continuing controversy over the new $48 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse in Tallahassee.

Hawkes did not resign from the court and wouldn't discuss his reason for stepping down as chief judge, but his resignation offered at an emergency conference Friday was clearly a defensive move.

Last month, Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady referred to the Judicial Qualifications Commission a state audit that, according to the St. Petersburg Times, "accused Hawkes and other judges of bullying state officials charged with building the courthouse."

As a result of a tea party campaign to knock him off the bench, Hawkes received a less-than-impressive 54.2 percent vote for retention in the Nov. 2 election. Judicial retention votes typically run in the high 60s or 70s.