Courts in Hawaii
| More information on Hawaii's state courts: |
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In Hawaii, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Hawaii's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Hawaii
Selection of state court judges in Hawaii occurs through the assisted appointment method. The five justices of the Hawaii Supreme Court, the six judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and the judges of the circuit courts are selected by the governor from a list of names compiled by a nominating commission. Family and district court judges are appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.[1][2]
The judges of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, and Hawaii Circuit Courts serve ten-year terms. Judges of the Hawaii District Courts serve six-year terms.[3]
Federal courts
The federal district court in Hawaii is the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 23, 2013 - |
Harvard University, 1988 |
Harvard Law, 1991 |
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| August 3, 2018 - |
Georgetown University, 1995 |
University of Washington School of Law, 1998 |
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| January 31, 2024 - |
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, 2003 |
Harvard Law School, 2006 |
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| October 15, 2024 - |
Chaminade University |
University of Hawaii William Richardson School of Law |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 3
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Hawaii. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Hawaii is:
State supreme court
- See also: Hawaii Supreme Court
Founded in 1959, the Hawaii Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current acting chief of the court is Sabrina S. McKenna.[4]
As of October 2025, four judges on the court were appointed by a Democratic governor and no judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.
The Hawaii Supreme Court meets in the meets in Aliʻiōlani Hale building in Honolulu, Hawaii.[4]
In Hawaii, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a hybrid judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission who has no majority of members selected either by the governor or the state Bar Association. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here.
The Hawaii Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases decided in lower courts within the state. These appeals come in the form of reserved and certified questions from lower courts or federal courts, and writs of certiorari. The court has exclusive jurisdiction over elections cases, rules governing the procedures of all state courts, and the regulation and discipline of attorneys and judges.[4]
The table below lists the current judges of the Hawaii Supreme Court and the appointing governor.
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Supreme Court | Vladimir P. Devens | Nonpartisan | January 12, 2024 | Joshua Green (D) |
| Hawaii Supreme Court | Todd Eddins | Nonpartisan | December 11, 2020 | David Ige (D) |
| Hawaii Supreme Court | Lisa M. Ginoza | Nonpartisan | January 12, 2024 | Joshua Green (D) |
| Hawaii Supreme Court | Vacant | |||
| Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice | Sabrina S. McKenna | Nonpartisan | October 1, 2025 | Joshua Green (D) |
State court of appeals
- See also: Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) is the intermediate appellate court in Hawaii. It was established by the Hawaii Constitution in 1959 and hears appeals from the trial courts and some state agencies. The court's six judges sit in panels of three.[5]
The court has the discretion to accept cases submitted without a prior suit that may relate to a civil action or Circuit or Tax Court proceedings, and in which the parties mutually agree on the facts presented in the case.[5]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
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November 19, 2018 - Present |
David Ige |
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January 30, 2008 - Present |
Linda Lingle |
|
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October 21, 2019 - Present |
David Ige |
|
|
October 1, 2021 - Present |
David Ige |
|
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May 31, 2023 - Present |
Joshua Green |
|
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April 3, 2025 - Present |
Joshua Green |
Trial courts
Circuit courts
- See also: Hawaii Circuit Courts
Hawaii's Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, and hold jury trials. The circuit courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over the following types of cases:[6]
- criminal felony cases,
- guardianship matters,
- probate matters,
- civil cases where the amount in controversy is more than $40,000.
Circuit courts share concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in non-jury civil cases in which the amount in controversy ranges from $10,000 to $40,000. Circuit courts also hear misdemeanor criminal cases transferred by district courts for jury trials and for proceedings related to mechanics’ liens.[6]
District courts
- See also: Hawaii District Courts
The Hawaii District Courts are trial courts that have jurisdiction over:[7]
- Administrative appeals related to motor vehicle registration
- Civil actions involving claims not exceeding $40,000
- Criminal offenses punishable by one year of imprisonment
- Ejection cases
- Landlord-tenant actions and related claims, and restraining orders
- Petitions for temporary restraining orders and injunctions
- Probable cause hearings for felony cases
- Small claims cases not exceeding $5,000
- Traffic infractions and violations
- Violations of state laws or county ordinances
Family court
- See also: Hawaii Family Courts
The Hawaii Family Courts are trial courts dedicated to cases involving families and children. They hear three main types of cases: children, domestic relations, and domestic violence. The court also hears civil commitment cases, cases relating to the guardianship of adults, and adult abuse cases.[8]
- Children cases include:[8]
- Abuse and neglect
- Adoption
- Delinquency
- Detention
- Guardianship
- Status offenses
- Termination of parental rights
- Domestic relations cases include:[8]
- Child Support
- Divorce
- Miscellaneous custody matters
- Paternity
- Uniform child custody jurisdiction cases
- Domestic violence cases include:[8]
- Felony charges related to offenses against household members,
- People charged with abuse against family and household members,
- Requests for civil restraining orders involving family members.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Hawaii," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Hawaii; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ State of Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau, "The Judiciary," accessed April 10, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Hawaii State Judiciary, "Hawaii Supreme Court," accessed September 14, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hawai'i State Judiciary, "The Intermediate Court of Appeals," accessed March 3, 2021
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hawai'i State Judiciary, "Circuit Courts," accessed March 3, 2021
- ↑ Hawai'i State Judiciary, "District Courts," accessed March 3, 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Hawai'i State Judiciary, "Family Courts," accessed March 3, 2021
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Hawaii • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Hawaii
State courts:
Hawaii Supreme Court • Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals • Hawaii Circuit Courts • Hawaii District Courts • Hawaii Family Courts
State resources:
Courts in Hawaii • Hawaii judicial elections • Judicial selection in Hawaii
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