Farewell, Justice Lawson

A true Floridian, born in Lakeland, Justice Charles Alan Lawson grew up in Tallahassee and lived in Orlando during his time as a judge. Justice Lawson announced his retirement from the Florida Supreme Court in April 2022. His service as a jurist includes serving six years on the bench of the Florida Supreme Court, eleven years on the bench of the Fifth District Court of Appeal, including a term as chief judge, and four years as a circuit judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Justice C. Alan Lawson

Before he was appointed to serve as a part of Florida’s judiciary, his career included private practice as a civil litigation attorney and assistant county attorney for Orange County. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University’s College of Law.

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Justice Lawson recalls his appointment to the Supreme Court with fondness. He was chief judge at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and they were hosting the annual Thanksgiving luncheon. Justice Lawson received a call from Governor Rick Scott before the luncheon informing him he was being appointed to the bench and would need to be in Tallahassee the next day for the announcement. He called his wife to share the news and inform her they would be traveling to Tallahassee that day. During the gathering, Justice Lawson remembers being asked repeatedly by peers and court staff when he would hear about the appointment. It was a secret he had to keep, and when he quietly excused himself from the event, he darted home, prepared for the trip, and left for Tallahassee.

Justice Lawson speaking to a virtual Supreme Court Building tour

Justice Lawson’s judicial journey began after several years of practicing as a civil litigation attorney with the appointment to the Ninth Judicial Circuit bench where he was assigned to the criminal division. He has said that if he had been given a choice between the civil or criminal divisions, he would eagerly take the opportunity to learn something new and choose the criminal division. He maintained the drive for learning, diversifying his experience and expanding his knowledge throughout his judicial career.

Looking back on his time on the circuit bench, Justice Lawson stressed the importance of trial court judges to the justice system and the difficult job they perform. He maintains that managing high caseloads and interacting with numerous litigants in a human-to-human way is a unique and challenging, yet highly rewarding, experience. During an interview for this story, Justice Lawson grinned as he said that the memories of his time at the circuit court stay with him, and he recalls them often. 
After four years at the Ninth Circuit, Justice Lawson was elevated to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. He described the post as an “intellectual academic endeavor” focused on finding the “right answer” to legal problems. He brought the same enthusiasm for exploring the unknown at the trial court level to his role as an appellate jurist and described every surprise as “pleasant” when confronted with something new.

Robed processional at Justice Lawson’s Investiture

After that Thanksgiving celebration in 2016, District Court of Appeal Judge C. Alan Lawson was prepared to become Justice C. Alan Lawson. His Supreme Court investiture was held in January 2017, and he invited judges to join him in a robed procession, which is typical of investitures in other Florida courts. This gesture was an expression of his respect and appreciation for the judicial branch and how the various levels of court are interdependent.  He describes the role of a judicial officer as a unique part of our government, where those serving are “never divided in the mission” of upholding the law and ensuring the protection of the rights and liberties of the people of Florida.

Serving on the Supreme Court bench is an ongoing intellectual challenge defined by what Justice Lawson described as “the fun stuff.” His eyes lit up as he described encountering “brand new legal issues” without clear answers and “digging in and figuring out” a solution that upholds the law. He noted that seated at the front of the courtroom during high-profile cases, sometimes you “pinch yourself” when you realize, “wow, I get to do this.”

Justice Lawson recalled his time on the Supreme Court as one defined by his many professional interactions with justices and staff alike. He characterized his peers as “smart, dedicated colleagues” who are passionate about administering the law. One of his greatest joys of being on the state’s highest court was to “admire the genius of his colleagues.”

Justice Lawson speaking to a virtual Supreme Court Building tour

The opportunity to observe the rapid evolution of technology, especially with the increased use of remote communication technologies throughout the pandemic, is a privilege few have had the opportunity to experience. Justice Lawson reflected on the increasingly digital world and the distractions technology presents and said that the “best vacation I’ve had was a Grand Canyon hike.” As he descended into the Canyon with his family, he lost cell service. He was relieved not to receive notifications, emails, or text messages and thankful to spend uninterrupted time with his family.

Although getting a respite from the digital world can be a relief, Justice Lawson also noted that technology allows for “a lot to be gained” in an increasingly remote world. He observed that the advent of remote proceedings is a significant step toward increasing access to courts and court services. Of course, this access must be balanced with professionalism as remote technology rises.

While adjusting to oral arguments held using audiovisual communication technology during the height of the pandemic, Justice Lawson said there were positives and negatives, as there are with any operational change. He found that although participants weren’t physically present and he missed the energy of the courtroom, he could utilize “speaker mode” within the videoconferencing platform to only view the person addressing the Court instead of every participant simultaneously. That capability reduced the distractions and helped him focus his attention effectively. He recommends being intentional with time as it creates good habits and nurtures good mental health.

Justice Lawson’s retirement celebration

Justice Lawson has been a champion across the state for personal and mental health. He has given many presentations to lawyers on making health a priority and stresses its importance in interviews. He advises that one must balance personal health with professional life in order to perform optimally at work. Paraphrasing an adage, he remarked, “you create your habits, and your habits create you.” Noting that creating healthy habits can be challenging, Justice Lawson advises to start small and develop habits that you can work on with others.

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Justice Lawson said: “Slow down a little.” He extended this advice to new judges, maintaining that a humble attitude helps avoid the easy adoption of bad habits and that “you don’t have to be the best right away.”

Justice Lawson reflected on the roles of judicial officers, court staff, and all those supporting the judicial branch and noted, with reverence, that “the objective is so clear,” and carrying out the mission of the judicial branch is a shared goal, unique to the institution of the judiciary.

When he announced his retirement in April 2022, Justice Lawson noted he looks forward to volunteering in South and Central America with his wife and is inviting others to join him and share those experiences.

As for the next chapter in his life, Justice Lawson said he “wants to be serving in a way that supports the constitution” and continue his “passion for the freedom under the rule of law and securing a nation for [his] children and grandchildren” as an individual citizen.

*Note: This article originally appeared in the Spring-Summer 2022 edition of the Full Court Press.