Charlene Vanessa Edwards Honeywell is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on November 9, 2009. Prior to appointment, Honeywell was a judge on the Florida Thirteenth Circuit Court.Judge Honeywell graduated from Howard with her Bachelor’s degree in May of 1979 and graduated with her Juris Doctor degree from Florida Law in 1981. While in high school, Honeywell excelled academically while serving as senior class vice president and homecoming queen.
After graduating from law school, Honeywell served as a Public Defender in the Leon County Public Defender’s Office from 1982 to 1985 before spending two years as an Assistant Public Defender in the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office.
From 1987 to 1994, Honeywell worked as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa Bay. Honeywell spent the years from 1994 to 2000 at the Tampa based law firm of Hill, Ward & Henderson.
Honeywell was hearing closing arguments in a case on the day the White House called.
“I have never in my life taken a break during closing arguments in a trial,” she said, her voice giddy. “I told the attorneys, ‘I have to take this call.’ “
The person on the line informed her that the president was nominating her for the federal judge position. That happened in June.
Federal judges are extremely powerful. They can overrule the legislature and are charged with interpreting the constitution.
Honeywell is modest in describing her impact on and off the bench. She calls herself “very normal” and enjoys spending time with her husband, a Tampa police officer, and two teenage children.
She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and has served as president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers and the George Edgecomb Bar Association.
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