Background
Hodges, William Terrell was born on April 28, 1934 in Lake Wales, Florida, United States. Son of Haywood and Clara Lucy (Murphy) Hodges.
Hodges, William Terrell was born on April 28, 1934 in Lake Wales, Florida, United States. Son of Haywood and Clara Lucy (Murphy) Hodges.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Florida in 1956 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1956.
Hodges was in private practice in Tampa from 1958 to 1971. He served as an instructor in business at the University of South Florida from 1961 to 1966. President Richard Nixon nominated Hodges on December 8, 1971 to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, to a seat vacated by Joseph P. Lieb.
Confirmed by the Senate on December 11, 1971, he received commission four days later.
Hodges served as chief judge from 1982 to 1989 and assumed senior status on May 2, 1999. Hodges presided over the 2008 trial of celebrity actor Wesley Snipes for failure to file personal income tax returns (Not to be confused with tax evasion).
Snipes was convicted on three misdemeanor charges, however Judge Hodges sentenced Snipes to three years in prison and an additional year of probation. Hodges controversial decision raises a number a legal questions in light of ignored facts and evidence related to the case.
Hodges was the chair of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation until June 13, 2007 when his term on that body ended.
The current chairman of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is Judge John G. Heyburn II of the Western District of Kentucky.
Member American, Tampa-Hillsborough County bar associations, Florida Bar (chairman grievance committee 1967-1970, chairman uniform commercial code committee 1970-1971), District Judges Association 5th Circuit (co-chairman committee on pattern jury instruction 1977-1981), District Judges Association 11th Circuit (chairman jury instructions committee since 1982, president 1981-1982) American Judicature Society.
Married Peggy Jean Woods, June 8, 1958. Children: Judson, Daniel, Clay.