WAIMEA — Mahilani E.K. Hiatt was sworn in as judge of the District Family Court of the 3rd Circuit for the South Kohala District before family, friends, and colleagues on Friday.
She will serve a term of six years through August 2024.
Prior to her appointment, Judge Hiatt was a partner at Hiatt & Hiatt, where she concentrated on commercial litigation and employment law. She also served as a per diem judge in the District and District Family Courts of the 3rd Circuit. She previously served as human resources administrator at Hawaii Electric Light Co., and was an associate attorney at Bays Deaver Hiatt Lung & Rose in Honolulu.
Hiatt is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1993.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald.
Remarks were made by Hawaii State Bar Association President Howard K.K. Luke; West Hawaii Bar Association President Donna V. Payesko; Hawaii County Bar Association President Sherilyn Tavares; Hawaii State Trial Judges Association Vice President Darien W.L. Ching Nagata; Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives Mark M. Nakashima; and Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye on behalf of the Hawaii State Senate.