Judge Robert Hodges made the final decision during Susan Lorincz’s court hearing. Apart from the sentencing, many were concerned about Judge Robert Hodges’ face, as he had a noticeable injury from an accident.
The 42-year-old jury member is a graduate of the University of South Florida and the University of Florida College of Law. After completing his education, Hodges became an Assistant State Attorney in the 5th Circuit.
Soon, he began working in Marion County in front of the county judges and slowly rose above the ranks, solving felony works in Citrus County and Lake County.
After gathering experience over five years as an assistant, Hodges started his career in the criminal division. The judge became a prominent name in the judiciary department and prosecuted first-degree murder cases.
In 2000, Hodges became a member of the State Child Abuse Review Committee and worked as the Secretary of Health to represent the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association.
Over the years, Hodges has noticable changes in his appearance, especially his face. The right side of his face appears swollen, with a scar from his forehead to his chin.
Speculations rose that Judge Robert Hodges might have been involved in a deadly accident, while others claimed that it might be a health condition.
Additionally, many claims surfaced that his face was a result of an acid burn or a car accident. Others mentioned that he had cancer. However, he hasn’t confirmed such comments.
Judge Robert Hodges has been appointed the Marion County judge of the Fifth Circuit Court in Florida!
During his career, Hodges initially replaced Judge Carven Angel in 2007 and was appointed to the post by Gov. Charlie Crist. His dedication and hard work have strengthened his jury tenure.
The judge won a contested race for the position and secured re-election in both 2010 and 2016. Years later, he secured automatic re-election to a six-year term ending in January 2023.
After his recent renewal, Hodges took over Susan Lorincz’s case, convicting her for a violent firearm attack on her Black neighbor. The case has received wide media and political attention.
It was so ironic to hear Susan Lorincz go on and on about her years of physical health problems in front Judge Robert Hodges, a man who has no doubt suffered far more, and continues to bare the scars. I had a feeling that Judge Hodges was not going to buy her self-pity. https://t.co/qQd9dcEvpt
— InMyOpinion (@BobbiesOpinions) November 26, 2024
According to police reports, Lorincz had shot AJ Ownes at her home through a locked front door. Ownes was a single mother to four children and had a minor disagreement with the convict.
However, things escalated quickly as the convict used a firearm to take her life. Witnesses confirmed that Ownes didn’t mean harm to Lorincz and later acted on a whirl. The Florida Police detained Lorincz a week later.
During the trial, Lorincz detailed her medical conditions to Hodges, hoping to get a pardon. She mentioned that she wasn’t in a proper mindset while acting out. However, Hodges acted on evidence rather than her futile claims.
Hodges concluded the case by mentioning that Lorincz’s attack was completely unnecessary and sentenced her to 25 years in prison. Many have praised the judge for properly treating the victim’s family.
Additional Information
- Judge Robert Hodges used his position to draft better laws for child rights. His committee reviewed the child demise ratio concerning abuse and neglect reports. He presented the issues to the Legislature and urged them to review the facts in child cases.
- The judge can be contacted through official and fax numbers at 352-401-7890 and 352-401-6760. However, Hodges cannot be regularly contacted for personal legal issues.
