Updated November 22, 2023: Lisa Ginoza was confirmed by the state Senate to serve as an associate justice on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court on November 21.
Original story:
A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law was nominated to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court by Gov. Josh Green on October 23. Lisa M. Ginoza, chief judge of the State of Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals, has also served as an adjunct professor in appellate advocacy at the UH law school.
“It is a great honor to be nominated to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court,” Ginoza said in a statement. “I am grateful to Governor Green for his confidence in me and thank him for this opportunity. I look forward to meeting with senators in the coming weeks as they consider my nomination. I also thank the Judicial Selection Commission for its earlier role in this important process.”
Ginoza also served as first deputy attorney general from 2005 to 2010, where she helped to lead a department of more than 700 employees, including 170 attorneys.
She was recommended after a thorough review by the Judicial Selection Commission. Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the state Senate. If confirmed she would join fellow Richardson alumni Sabrina McKenna and Todd Eddins as a justice on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
Ginoza is also among several Richardson alumni who have been recently tapped to serve on state and federal courts.
Last month, Shanlyn Park was nominated to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Hawaiʻi. Her confirmation is subject to approval by the U.S. Senate. If confirmed, she would be the first Native Hawaiian woman to serve as a federal district court judge.
Fellow alumni Robert Brown, David Hayakawa and Erika Ireland were sworn in as judges on October 23 to serve on the District Court of the First Court (Oʻahu).
“We are so proud of our alumni and all that they have done for our community,” said UH law school Dean Camille Nelson. “Our law school is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. And this momentous occasion provides us an opportunity to celebrate and thank so many people—our alumni, our students, our faculty, our staff and our community.”
Green also chose private attorney Vladimir P. Devens for a second seat to the state’s high court. The two seats are opening as Associate Justices Paula Nakayama and Michael Wilson are set to retire at the legally required age of 70.
