---
title: "Lee E. Haworth | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# Lee E. Haworth

District Court of Appeal of Florida · Judge

## Profile

- Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
- State: Florida
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1989-present
- Elected to the bench: 1988, after serving as Chief Assistant State Attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit.
- Retired judge of Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties
- Early career: Chief Assistant State Attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit; later senior civil litigator at Isphording, Payne, Korp, Muirhead, Haworth & White
- In summary, Judge Lee E. Haworth’s career combined judicial leadership, innovative legal programs, and distinguished military service, leaving a lasting impact on Florida’s justice system and community initiatives

### Education

- B.A. in English and Political Science, University of Tennessee (1967) J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law (1970)

### Additional information

- Retirement: 2015, at Florida’s mandatory judicial retirement age of 70.
- In 2015, he reflected on his career, calling it “the best job I ever owned”.
- Named one of Governing Magazine’s Public Officials of the Year in 2011.
- Chief Judge: Served from 2007 to 2011.
- Commanded the 199th Judge Advocate General Detachment in St. Petersburg during the 1990 Gulf War.
- Board Certification: Civil Trial Law, Florida Bar (1983).
- Former chief prosecutor for the circuit and a board certified civil trial attorney before taking the bench.
- Court jurisdiction: The 12th Judicial Circuit covers DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### media and still photography

Scope: statewide

Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration.

Evidence excerpt: Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed

[Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6928/lee-e-haworth/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6928/lee-e-haworth/)
- [District Court of Appeal of Florida current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6928/lee-e-haworth/)
- [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6928/lee-e-haworth/)
- [Judge Lee E. Haworth - Designing Women Boutique - Sarasota, FL](https://designingwomensrq.org/judge-lee-e-haworth)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928",
      "name": "Lee E. Haworth | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Lee E. Haworth, District Court of Appeal of Florida. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-02",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928#judge",
      "name": "Lee E. Haworth",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "District Court of Appeal of Florida"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6928/lee-e-haworth/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Florida",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/florida"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Lee E. Haworth",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-e-haworth-6928"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```