Judge Virginia M. Hernandez

Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa is the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award. The award, which honors outstanding and sustained service to the public especially as it relates to support of pro bono legal services, will be presented by Chief Justice Charles T. Canady in a Jan. 28 ceremony streamed live by the Supreme Court of Florida.

Judge Covington has been a public servant her entire legal career. She was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal in 2001, and to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, in 2004. Judge Covington took se­nior status in July 2020, but still maintains a 100 percent caseload.