About Todd C
Todd C Hawkins built a steady legal path that began with study and moved quickly into courtroom work. He earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern State University in 1998. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2001.
After law school, Hawkins entered public service. He served as an assistant public defender with the Missouri State Public Defender beginning in 2003. That role put him in front of judges and juries early in his career and gave him regular courtroom experience representing clients who could not afford private counsel. Two years later he shifted to the other side of the docket, joining the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office as an assistant prosecuting lawyer in 2005. That stint added prosecutorial perspective and trial preparation against a broader array of criminal charges.
Hawkins moved into private practice in 2008 when he became part of Parrish, Cross, Genisio and Hawkins. He spent several years there handling litigation and advising clients in state courts. In 2016 he took on a judicial role as a municipal judge for the City of Seneca, a position that required managing dockets, presiding over hearings and issuing legal rulings at the local level. He continued to balance bench work and advocacy as his career progressed.
In 2019 Hawkins began practicing under the name Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers. That change reflected a sustained interest in criminal cases and client-facing defense work. Across roles—public defender, prosecutor, private attorney and municipal judge—he developed practical courtroom skills and an understanding of how different parts of the criminal justice system operate.
Hawkins has been a member of The Missouri Bar since 2003 and has held membership in the Jasper County Bar Association since the same year. He remains active in those bar circles, maintaining professional contacts and staying current on state practice matters. His resume shows a pattern of alternating public and private roles that have given him experience on both sides of criminal proceedings.
He currently practices at Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers, handling criminal defense and related litigation matters.
