Stephen F. Hanlon

Professor Hanlon has been practicing law for 45 years.  He has a long history of handling public interest and civil rights cases.  In 1989, he founded the Community Services Team (CST) at Holland & Knight and since that time has served as the Partner in Charge of the CST, which is the largest full-time private practice pro bono department in the nation.  The CST provides legal representation to people and groups that could otherwise not afford it.  In 1997, Holland and Knight received the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award.  The American Lawyer has described Holland and Knight as a "Pro Bono Champion (PBC)."  In 2006, Professor Hanlon received the Chesterfield Smith Award from Holland & Knight, the firm's highest individual recognition given to a firm partner.

After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1966, Professor Hanlon practiced law with his father in St. Louis, Missouri.  He then served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of a joint venture subsidiary of Marathon Oil Company before moving to Florida to begin his civil rights practice with Bay Area Legal Services in Tampa, Florida in 1976.

Professor Hanlon has received numerous professional awards for his work.  He also has served as Past Chairman for the Florida Bar, Public Interest Law Section; Past President of Florida Legal Services; and Past Chair of the Executive Council, American Bar Association, Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section.  He currently serves as Chair for the Project Steering Committee, American Bar Association Death Penalty Moratorium and Chair for The Constitution Project.

Professor Hanlon has represented many individuals in housing, employment and HIV/AIDS discrimination cases, as well as two inmates on Florida's death row.  Some of his significant cases in class action, multiple plaintiff and associational plaintiff litigation are summarized below.

·         Class action on behalf of all Florida high school students challenging constitutionality of Florida's Functional Literacy Test. Four year injunction.  (Work with Center for Law and Education.)  Debra v. Turlington, 730 F. 2^nd 1405 (11^th Cir. 1984.)

·         Class of 5,000 dark-skinned tenant-applicants for apartment housing.  Obtained injunctive