Three alumni from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law were appointed as judges in the state’s Circuit Court of the First Circuit. Judge Brian Costa, Judge Dyan Medeiros and Judge Steven Nichols, once sworn in, will each serve a term of 10 years.
William S. Richardson School of Law Dean Camille Nelson said that Richardson is delighted to see that the excellence of the law school’s alumni continues to be recognized at the highest levels. “We are incredibly proud of Judge Costa, Judge Medeiros and Judge Nichols. We know they will continue their dedicated service as they take on new roles on the bench.”
“They are stellar examples of the activation of the mission of the William S. Richardson School of Law to cultivate strong ethical professionals whose leadership and service uplift and enhance communities near and far,” Nelson said.
Costa currently serves as a District Family Court Judge, handling divorce, annulment, paternity, protection orders, juvenile delinquency and more. Before his judicial role, he was an attorney member manager at Costa & DeLacy.
Leading the Domestic Division as a District Family Court judge, Medeiros oversees divorce cases. She also presided over juvenile criminal and child welfare cases in the Juvenile Division, as well as paternity, restraining orders, adoption and guardianship cases in the Special Division.
Nichols has been a per diem District Family Court judge. He also practiced at the Law Office of Steven R. Nichols, where he focused on criminal defense cases. Previously, he was a deputy public defender at the Honolulu Office of the Public Defender.
