hˈɔːkɪnz wʌz nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd baɪ pɹˈɛzɪdənt bˈɪl klˈɪntən ˌɔn dʒuːlˈaɪ θˈɜːtiːn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ, tʊ ɐ sˈiːt ɔnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts kˈoːɹt ʌv ɐpˈiːlz fɚðə nˈaɪnθ sˈɜːkɪt vˈeɪkeɪɾᵻd baɪ dʒˈʌdʒ tˈɑːməs tˈæŋ.
Hawkins was nominated by President Bill Clinton on July 13, 1994, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated by Judge Thomas Tang.