Paula A. Nakayama
Encyclopedia
Paula A. Nakayama of Honolulu, Hawaii
is Associate Justice
of the Hawaii State Supreme Court
. She served her first term from 1993 to 2003. She is currently serving her second term which lasts from 2003 to 2013. At a young age, Nakayama moved to San Jose, California
where she graduated from Blackford High School. She then went on to study at the University of California at Davis
where she obtained her bachelor's degree in consumer economics
. She obtained her doctorate of jurisprudence
at the Hastings College of Law. In 1979, Nakayama joined the staff of the Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu
as a deputy prosecutor. In 1982, she joined the law firm Shim, Tam, Sigal and Naito where she became a partner. It was from private practice that in 1992, Governor John Waihee
appointed Nakayama to the Hawaii State Judiciary
as a circuit court judge. Confident of her skill, the governor elevated Nakayama to the Hawaii State Supreme Court in 1993. Governor Linda Lingle
reappointed Nakayama to a second term in 2003. Nakayama is a member of the Hawaii Democratic Party.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
is Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Hawaii State Supreme Court
Hawaii State Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Hawaii is the highest court of the State of Hawaii in the United States. Its decisions are binding on all other courts of the Hawaii State Judiciary. The principal purpose of the Supreme Court is to review the decisions of the trial courts in which appeals have been granted...
. She served her first term from 1993 to 2003. She is currently serving her second term which lasts from 2003 to 2013. At a young age, Nakayama moved to San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
where she graduated from Blackford High School. She then went on to study at the University of California at Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
where she obtained her bachelor's degree in consumer economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. She obtained her doctorate of jurisprudence
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at the Hastings College of Law. In 1979, Nakayama joined the staff of the Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu
Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu
The Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu is one of only two countywide elected positions in the City & County of Honolulu in the State of Hawai'i. He or she is responsible for the prosecution of people for offenses to the laws and regulations established by the municipal government...
as a deputy prosecutor. In 1982, she joined the law firm Shim, Tam, Sigal and Naito where she became a partner. It was from private practice that in 1992, Governor John Waihee
John D. Waihee III
John David Waihee III served as the fourth Governor of Hawaii from 1986 to 1994. He was the first American of Native Hawaiian descent to be elected to the office from any state of the United States. After his tenure in the governor's office, Waihee became a nationally prominent attorney and...
appointed Nakayama to the Hawaii State Judiciary
Hawaii State Judiciary
The Hawaii State Judiciary is the official name of the judicial system of Hawaii in the United States. Based in Honolulu, the Hawaii State Judiciary is a unified state court system that functions under the Chief Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court who is its...
as a circuit court judge. Confident of her skill, the governor elevated Nakayama to the Hawaii State Supreme Court in 1993. Governor Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
reappointed Nakayama to a second term in 2003. Nakayama is a member of the Hawaii Democratic Party.