Hernando Judge | 5th Circuit Court, Group 3

This three-way race to replace retiring Circuit Judge Barbara Gurrola of Citrus County features three established attorneys with different backgrounds who could easily force this competitive race to a runoff. If one candidate fails to get more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two face off in the general election.

	Sandy K. Hawkins, 53	Michael Lamberti, 48	Denise A. Lyn, 41
Experience	Hawkins was born in Palm Beach County and now lives in Belleview. As a single mother, she worked various jobs while attending school. She graduated from the police academy, then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Stetson University in 1997 at age 42. For the last 11 years, she’s served as an assistant state attorney in the 5th Judicial Circuit. Hawkins narrowly lost a judicial election in 2006, finishing with 49 percent of the vote.	A Queens, N.Y., native, Lamberti moved to Spring Hill more than 10 years ago. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics and was an EMT while at the State University of New York at Stony Brook before earning a law degree at Touro College in 1997. He spent 10-plus years as an assistant state attorney and four years as a supervisor before focusing on his campaign. Previously, he served for 11 years as a claims representative before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board.	Born in Somerville, N.J., Lyn moved to Florida 22 years ago and Inverness 11 years ago. She served in the Air Force for five years after high school. She worked in real estate sales, too, and kept the job while earning a bachelor’s in business administration from Troy University. She received a law degree from the University of Florida in 1997. She worked with a private law firm in Inverness before opening her own practice in 2001. She has also represented a few governmental entities in Citrus County.
Legal background	As assistant state attorney in Ocala, Hawkins handled domestic violence cases in criminal courts and injunction violations in civil court for the first four years. She spent her last seven years working a felony criminal docket. All told, she said, she has tried more than 50 jury trials and more than 70 non-jury trials.	He litigated disability claims in an administrative law court before a permanently disabling work-related injury prompted him to go to law school. As a prosecutor, he handled misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency and felony cases in three counties, including Hernando. He estimates he has tried about 65 cases to verdict.	In private practice her entire career, she handles general litigation. As a contract attorney for governments such as the city of Inverness and the Citrus County property appraiser, she helps write local ordinances and interprets state law. She said she has completed about 30 non-jury trials and eight appeals in state district court.
Opinions on experience	“I think I have both the legal experience and the life experience to be a fair and impartial decision maker. As (a prosecutor) I have to make decisions daily about whether or not to file a case by examining the evidence and judging the credibility of witnesses. . . . I’ve raised 6 boys, the last 19 years as a single working parent. I am hard-working, organized and pay attention to detail.”	“Over the last nearly 20 years, I have acquired the work ethic and wide-ranging legal skills and experiences necessary to be a successful judge. In addition, I recognize that the stability and vitality of any democratic society depends on its courts’ ongoing and consistent adherence to the settled rule of law. I am determined to treat (all) with calmness, understanding, dignity and respect.”	“By litigating many different types of cases throughout my legal career while also (helping) clients carry out their statutory and contractual obligations, I have gained understandings that are invaluable to a judge. Additionally, while I have served my country, my profession and my community, I have gained invaluable experience to apply in carrying out the duties ... of a circuit court judge.”
Quote	“It is my intent, if elected, to stay on the bench for two terms before retiring. This is long enough to make an impression but short enough to give someone else the opportunity to sit on the bench.”	“I am really not a 'politician.’ . . . My objective is to run a clean, nonconfrontational campaign respecting each of my opponents and ultimately the choice of the electorate.”	“I believe that my diverse legal background along with my interpersonal skills, temperament and decision making abilities make me uniquely qualified to be a circuit court judge.”
Assets	Home; property	Home; retirement fund; stocks; pension; savings; boat	Home; retirement account; private law practice
Liabilities	Mortgage; student loan; car loan	Car loans	Bank loans; student loans
Source of income	Salary	Salary; investment interest	Salary
Personal	Twice divorced; six grown children	Married; no children	Divorced; no children
Web site	No	No	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes	Yes
Net worth	$360,000	$274,000	$168,000

About the job: The 5th Judicial Circuit encompasses Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Sumter and Marion counties. The judge elected to Group 3 is typically based in Citrus. Circuit judges handle juvenile justice, family law, felony cases and civil disputes involving more than $15,000. Judges are elected on a nonpartisan basis to six-year terms and get paid $145,080 annually.