Tallahassee Attorney Donald Hinkle Receives Prestigious War Horse Award from Southern Trial Lawyers Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Southern Trial Lawyers Association (STLA) honored Tallahassee attorney Donald Hinkle with its prestigious 2025 War Horse Award, recognizing his exceptional career championing justice and advancing public safety through the legal system. The War Horse Award, STLA's highest honor, celebrates attorneys whose careers exemplify excellence in trial advocacy while making lasting contributions to the justice system. Hinkle's selection recognizes both his remarkable courtroom achievements and his broader impact on the legal community and public safety through precedent-setting litigation. Throughout his distinguished career, Hinkle has secured million-dollar verdicts across many practice areas, including medical malpractice, auto and truck crashes, defective product cases, and claims against bars and stores that sell alcohol to minors. His litigation has helped establish safe practices now used worldwide, including no-diving warnings at pools and reflective tape on commercial trucks. He
successfully advocated for transmission-brake interlock systems in automobiles and farm equipment, measures now mandated by federal regulation.

"Don Hinkle exemplifies what it means to be a War Horse," said Mona Wallace of North Carolina, who presented the award at the annual conference in New Orleans. “Beyond his exceptional trial skills, he has dedicated his career to advancing justice and making our world safer for everyone." Hinkle's influence extends well beyond the courtroom. He has served as president of both the Tallahassee Bar Association and the local chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He co-founded the Capital City Justice Association to help preserve access to justice and protect our right to trial by jury. His commitment to legal excellence and ethics earned him ABOTA's Civility Award, the organization's highest recognition for ethical practice. His dedication to nurturing the next generation of legal advocates is evidenced by his endowment of the Donald Hinkle Professor of Law at Florida State University College of Law, where he serves as an adjunct professor and mentors aspiring attorneys.

The Florida Justice Association has recognized his advocacy for consumers with the Crystal Eagle Award for Lifetime Commitment and the Shoe Leather Award for his legislative efforts. He has served on multiple judicial nominating commissions and worked tirelessly to secure the appointment of qualified judges. Hinkle holds three board certifications and maintains an AV rating. His numerous accolades include recognition among the American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 25 Medical Malpractice Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America recognized him as Tallahassee’s 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” in Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs.