Schatz Commends Senate Judiciary Committee Approval of U.S. District Court Seat

Clare Connors. University of Hawai’i at Manoa photo.

Senator Brian Schatz commended the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on Thursday to approve Clare Connors to fulfill the open U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai’i seat.

Senator Schatz and Senator Mazie Hirono selected Connors among other names for recommendation to the White House last June.

Connors was selected by President Barack Obama in September to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai’i.

“This is an important step forward, and I congratulate the Senate Judiciary Committee for recognizing Clare Connors as a strong candidate for the U.S. District Court for Hawai‘i,” said Senator Schatz. “Clare’s knowledge, fair-mindedness, and dedication to justice will make her an exemplary district court judge. I look forward to voting for her when her nomination reaches the Senate floor.”

Connors’ nomination will now go to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Senator Schatz delivered testimony in support of Connors at her nomination hearing before the Judiciary Committee in January.

Connors is a trial attorney who began her legal career in 2001 with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2002, she served as a clerk for the Honorable Judge David Ezra in his capacity as a federal district court judge. She returned to Hawai‘i to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney. She continues to practice law as an associate at Davis Levin Livingston in Hawai‘i.

A Punahou School graduate, Connors also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Yale and Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

Connors has served on the faculty of the William S. Richardson School of Law as a Lecturer in Law for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic. In 2014, she was appointed to be a Lawyer Representative for the District of Hawai’i to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and previously served as a Lawyer Delegate to the Hawai’i District Conference.

If approved through final vote, Connors will hold the position of the Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway, who is retiring from active service.