The director of the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Daniel R. Hawkins, will become a judge on Monday after his appointment today by Gov. John R. Kasich to the Franklin County Municipal Court, Environmental Division.

Hawkins replaces retired Judge Harland H. Hale. Hawkins must run in this November’s general election to retain the seat for the unexpired term that ends January 7, 2016.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Bowling Green State University and earned his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law. He was admitted to the Ohio bar on November 13, 2001.

Hawkins has been involved with the Central Ohio Sexual Assault Task Force, as a member of the Franklin County Violence Against Women Act Advisory Board, and the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.