Hawaii
Hawaii’s highest court is the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii. The court has four associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is appointed under the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: Hawaii Constitution)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates a candidate to the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii from a list provided by a judicial selection commission. The governor’s selection must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. The appointed justice serves a 10-year term. Justices may stand for reappointment by the state’s judicial selection commission to additional terms. The governor nominates a judicial candidate to fill an interim vacancy from a list provided by a judicial selection commission. The governor’s selection must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. The appointed justice serves a 10-year term. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Hawaii’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1950. As of January 1, 2026, it had 116 amendments. (Data on file with John Dinan, Wake Forest University.)
Filters
State Courts Offer Protection Against Pregnancy Discrimination
Courts in almost two dozen states have rejected the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning that discrimination based on pregnancy is not sex discrimination.
How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
The Hawaii Constitution: Rooted in Culture and ‘Āina (Land)
With extensive protections for the environment, the Hawaii Constitution is a model for other states’ green amendments and public trust provisions.
Closing Remarks
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments
The Tenacious Power of Constitutional Torts
Despite hurdles, civil rights litigation is a critical tool for people who have been harmed by the government and for those seeking long-lasting change.
Who’s Hiring State Supreme Court Clerks?
State-by-state information to aid law students and young attorneys in securing a state clerkship.
Religious Freedom and Abortion
Religious liberty protections have been steadily extended in both state and federal court over the last two decades. In some states, plaintiffs are arguing religious liberty includes a right to an abortion, with some success.
State Law Gives Litigators Extra Tools to Counter Originalism
Unique features of state courts allow lawyers to go beyond arguments available in federal courts.