William Ashbie Hawkins (August 2, 1862 – April 3, 1941) was a lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, who litigated prominent civil rights cases.

After seven years as a public school teacher (1885-1892), Hawkins was admitted to the Maryland bar on January 29, 1897, and quickly set up his own law practice.

"[3] Shortly after its establishment, W. Ashbie Hawkins represented several plaintiffs before the Public Service Commission protesting against the segregated conditions both in boats and trains under the Jim Crow law.

[2] On May 15, 1911, Baltimore Mayor J. Barry Mahool, who was known as an earnest advocate of good government, women's suffrage, and social justice, signed into law, city ordinance No.

This perceived incursion was partially responsible for an effort by white Baltimoreans to institute a municipal, racial segregation law that was the first of its kind.

He served as counsel to the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Afro-American newspapers.