Carlus Haynes
“Humility is the trait that every great man must strive to possess, Pride is the trait that every great man must avoid, and Common Sense is the trait that every great man must be born with.”
Carlus Leandrus Haynes is a trial lawyer who has been recognized for his tenacity and zealous advocacy for his clients while practicing in Orange County, Florida as an Assistant Public Defender. His skill and trial success earned him the nickname “Johnny Cochran Jr.” and he was recognized by Public Defender Bob Wesley for his achievements when he received the misdemeanor attorney of the year award in December 2004. Currently, Carlus dedicates most of his practice to defending the causes of the criminally accused, advancing the civil rights of the oppressed, and representing the injured.
Carlus L. Haynes was born June 26, 1974 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida to James and Rhonda Haynes. Early in his life, Carlus was labeled a “troubled child” and was tested to be placed in the ESE learning disabled program in the third grade. As God would have it, the results of that test catapulted Carlus into the Gifted Program at Faulkner Street Elementary. For the next nine years, Carlus faced many obstacles in the Volusia County School system that culminated his senior year where he faced the real possibility of not graduating due to several suspensions and teachers refusing to teach him in class. However, Carlus overcame these obstacles and graduated with an “honors diploma” from New Smyrna Beach High School in 1992. Shortly after graduation, he attended the University of Florida where he continued his academic success and became very active in campus activities. In May of 1995, Carlus became a member of the famed Omega PsiPhi Fraternity Incorporated. Carlus was also active in intramural sports, Black Student Union, Student Government, and various other organizations. He graduated from the University of Florida in May 1997 with a 3.0 GPA and a BA in Political Science.