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Karen Nakasone

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Karen Nakasone

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Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2035

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Prior offices
O`ahu First Circuit Court 22nd Division

Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals

Compensation

Base salary

$222,804

Elections and appointments
Appointed

April 3, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Bryn Mawr College

Law

Boston University School of Law

Karen Nakasone is a judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals. She assumed office on April 3, 2025. Her current term ends on April 3, 2035.

Nakasone was elevated to chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals to replace Lisa M. Ginoza on April 3, 2025.[1]

Governor David Ige (D) appointed Nakasone to the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals on September 11, 2020.[2] Nakasone was confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate on October 6, 2020, for a ten year term.[3]

Nakasone is a former judge on the O`ahu First Circuit Court in Hawaii. She was nominated by Governor Neil Abercrombie in August 2011 to succeed Sabrina S. McKenna. The nomination was confirmed by the Hawaii Senate, by a vote of 22-0.[4][5][6]

Education

Nakasone received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. [7]

Career

From 1996 until her appointment, Nakasone was a Deputy Public Defender in Honolulu. Before that, she was a law clerk for Simeon Acoba.[7]

Awards and associations

Awards

  • 2009 Best Lawyers under 40, Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • 2008 Pacific Century Fellow

Associations

  • Arbitrator, Court Annexed Arbitration Program
  • Board of Directors, Hawaii Women Lawyers
  • Board of Directors, Board of Bar Examiners
  • Board of Directors, Hawaii Chapter, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Past President, Japanese American Citizens League, Honolulu Chapter

See also

Hawaii Judicial Selection More Courts
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Courts in Hawaii
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Hawaii Supreme Court
Elections: 202520242023202220212020201920182017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Hawaii
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

External links

Footnotes