Celebrating Women Judges for Women’s History Month
The Honorable Maxine Cheesman
The Honorable Maxine Cheesman is the first black woman and first Jamaican to be elected (without first being appointed) as Circuit Court Judge in Palm Beach County in 2018. Having completed her Law Degree, cum laude, at Nova Southeastern Law School in 2004, she was admitted to federal courts for the Southern and Middle District of Florida. She established the Law Offices of Cheesman & Varner, P.A., involved in the general practice of law in the state, federal and administrative courts. She has a thirteen year practice in employment, immigration, social security, real property, housing, bankruptcy, business, probate and contract law. She emphasized equal access to justice for all, being awarded for pro bono service from various organizations, including the “Justice for All” award from Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. Her leadership in the Land Acquisition Division and Oversight of land inspections, evaluations, relocations, title processes, real estate closings, multi-million-dollar contracts, GIS mapping, releases of reservations, appraisals, relocations, and environmental impacts investigations led to successful revamping of the Water Quality Division, increasing the staff cadre from 30 to 84.
As hydrogeniologist III, she led a multi-agency team to develop a Quality Assurance Systems Requirements Manual for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program and was expert witness on water quality monitoring for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in Miccosukee v. SFWMD. During her tenure at Dade County, Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), Chemist II, she developed the first comprehensive Quality Assurance Plan for water quality monitoring activities for Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM). This was the first countyagency to have a plan developed and approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She authored several annual technical reports evaluating the environmental impacts of contaminants on surface and ground water quality in Miami-Dade County. Judge Cheesman’s awards include Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County – “And Justice for All Pro-bono Award,” Florida Bar - Outstanding Labor and Employment Law Student, DERM Employee of the Year, Cedrick Hassell Prize for Excellence in Chemistry, University of the West Indies Graduate Scholarship.
Her publications include Intensive Canal Study, Evaluation of Water Quality in the Princeton Canal (C-102, ) Field Comprehensive Quality Assurance Plan for Dade County, DERM Water Quality Associated with Atrazine Usage in Corn Fields in Dade County, Florida (Draft), Intensive Canal Study: Evaluation of Water Quality in the L-31 Canal, Ground and Surface Water Programs, The Interaction of Calcium and Magnesium with HEMA/MAA Copolymers. Judge Cheesman is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, having gained 1 st class honors in the B.Sc degree in Chemistry. She was admitted to the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the Southern District Bankruptcy Court.
The Honorable Maxine A. M. Williams
Magistrate Maxine Williams was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. She attended St John’s Primary School and St. Jago High School for two years. She migrated from Jamaica at age 14 years. Her residence on arriving in the U.S. was Carol City, now known as Miami Gardens. She graduated salutatorian of Carol City Senior High School. She attended the University of Florida for undergrad and law school, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. She was appointed Magistrate, 15 th Judicial Circuit in 2006. Magistrate Williams was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1994. She worked as a public defendant at Palm beach legal aid and argued two winning cases before the Florida Supreme Court, State v Hogan and B.Y. v State. She became Administrative Magistrate for the 15 th Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County in 2016.
Judge Cymonie S. Rowe
Circuit Court Judge, the honorable Cymonie Rowe was born in Hartford, Connecticut to Jamaican immigrant parents. Judge Rowe earned dual degrees in broadcast communications and psychology from the University of Miami, and is a Juris Doctor and law review scholarship recipient from Nova Southeastern University. She was admitted to the Federal Bar of Southern District of Florida, Columbia, and to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the 15 th Circuit Court Judge appointed by Governor Rick Scott. Judge Rowe’s awards and honors include the F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association Judicial Advisor, South Palm Beach County Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Impact, Florida Bar Judge of the year 2018, Alummi Marshall- University of Miami and numerous other awards. Her publications include Religious Rights in the People’s Republic of China and Technological Advances in Banking. She is married to Steve Hinkel. She lives by the mantra; Be kind, be strong, and be humble. Her golden rule –do unto others as you would have them do unto you.