Clare Connors appointed new AG

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced he is appointing Clare Connors to be the attorney general of the State of Hawaii, subject to senate confirmation.

Connors is an experienced criminal and civil litigator who is leaving the law firm of Davis Levin Livingston where she has represented a variety of clients since October 2011 to take this position. She began her legal career in Hawaii as a law clerk for federal District Judge David Ezra and was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Hawaii from 2004 to March 2011.

“I am humbled by Gov. Ige’s nomination and honored to serve the people of the State of Hawai,” Connors said in a press release from the governor’s office. “I look forward to joining the Deputy Attorney Generals and professional staff and to contributing to the important work of the office.”

Prior to that she was part of the Attorney General’s Honors program with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C., and worked as a trial attorney for the DOJ Tax Division. Connors holds two B.A. degrees from Yale College, one in ethics, politics and economics and the other in international studies. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

“Clare is an accomplished attorney who has experience with both criminal and civil litigation,” Ige said in the release. “She has the skills to defend the state in legal proceedings, provide outstanding legal advice and counsel, and manage the largest law firm in the state. She will be a tremendous asset as the chief legal officer and chief law enforcement officer of the State of Hawaii.”