code: public static Date parse(String dateString)
              throws ParseException {
  
          // Return null if no date provided
          if (dateString == null || dateString.isEmpty())
              return null;
  
          // Parse date according to format
          DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat(DateField.FORMAT);
          return dateFormat.parse(dateString);
  
      }
docs: Parses the given string into a corresponding date. The string must
  follow the standard format used by date fields, as defined by FORMAT
  and as would be produced by format().
  
  @param dateString
  The date string to parse, which may be null.
  
  @return
  The date corresponding to the given date string, or null if the
  provided date string was null or blank.
  
  @throws ParseException
  If the given date string does not conform to the standard format
  used by date fields.