code: public Date getDate(String name, String format) {
          Object value = get(name);
          if (value instanceof Date) {
              return (Date)value;
          }
          
          if (value != null) {
              try {
                  return new SimpleDateFormat(format).parse(value.toString());
              } catch (ParseException e) {
                  // ignore
              }
          }
          return null;
      }
docs: Obtains a date from the parameter using the given format
  @param name The name
  @param format The format
  @return The date or null