Catharina Haynes ’83, Justice for All
Catharina, a Brevard County native, was appointed by President George W. Bush to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in April of 2008. Prior to taking the federal bench, she served eight years as a Texas state district judge in Dallas. In addition to her judicial service, Judge Haynes spent thirteen years in private practice, including more than five years as a partner and six years as an associate in the trial section of Baker Botts, LLP’s Dallas office.
Judge Haynes graduated first in her class from Florida Tech, earning a bachelor of science in psychology at the age of nineteen. She went on to graduate second in her class from Emory University School of Law and received her JD with distinction at age twenty-two.
“I’ve always been interested in justice for all. The professors at Florida Tech helped me develop an understanding of human nature that serves me to this day in my work as a judge,” she said.
Judge Haynes recently received the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Emory University School of Law, the 2016 Honorary Alumna Award from the SMU Dedman School of Law, and the 2014 Florida Tech Award of Distinction. She is a two-time recipient of the Dallas Bar Association’s Jo Anna Moreland Outstanding Committee Chair Award. She has also received the Outstanding Board Member Award and the Louise B. Raggio Award from the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, the Award of Excellence from the DAYL Foundation, and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Tech Alumni Association. During her time at Baker Botts, she was awarded its Thomas Gibbs Gee Award (a pro bono recognition award).
Judge Haynes comes from a distinguished Florida Tech family. Her father, Pieter Dubbelday, and her uncle, Nabil Matar, were both professors at Florida Tech, and her sister, Dr. Wadad Dubbelday, distinguished scientist at the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, is a Florida Tech alumna as well.
Judge Haynes and her husband, Craig, celebrated their thirtieth anniversary in August, 2018.
Judge Haynes was featured in Florida Tech’s 60th Anniversary special edition book, “60 for 60: Celebrating Sixty Years of Alumni at Florida Institute of Technology.” Copies are available for purchase here.
