Leslie Emi Kobayashi (born October 9, 1957) is an American lawyer who serves as a senior United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Early life and education
Kobayashi was born in 1957 in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College in 1979 and her Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School in 1983.[2][3]
Career
Kobayashi worked as a trial attorney and managing partner of the law firm of Fujiyama, Duffy & Fujiyama in Honolulu for a period of 17 years. She worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Honolulu before becoming a United States magistrate judge on August 2, 1999. In 2000 and 2001, she taught at the William S. Richardson School of Law.[2][3]
Federal judicial service
On April 21, 2010, Kobayashi was nominated to a seat as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii by Barack Obama. She was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Judge Helen W. Gillmor, who assumed senior status in 2009. The United States Senate confirmed the nomination on December 18, 2010.[4][5] This makes her the first Japanese American federal judge confirmed during the Obama Administration.[6] She received her commission on December 22, 2010. Kobayashi assumed senior status on October 9, 2024.[3]
Notable cases
On August 8, 2023, Kobayashi partially blocked Hawaii's ban on firearms in public places. [7] [8] On September 6, 2024, the 9th circuit largely reinstated Hawaii's firearm ban, [9] [10] and denied en banc on January 15, 2025. [11]
See also
References
- ^ "Dignity key for Kobayashi". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. December 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire: Leslie Emi Kobayashi Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, (April 19, 2010).
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c Leslie E. Kobayashi at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "Kobayashi confirmed as Hawaii U.S. district judge". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. December 18, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Senate confirms Kobayashi as U.S. District Court judge in Hawaii". KHON. December 18, 2010. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ "In The News – Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)". capac.chu.house.gov.
- ^ "Hawaii cannot prevent gun owners from carrying in many public areas — for now". Courthouse News Service. August 9, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Jason Wolford, et al. v. Anne Lopez" (PDF). Courthouse News. August 8, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "US appeals court partially reinstates Hawaii and California firearm carry restrictions". JURISTnews. September 7, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Jason Wolford, et al. v. Anne Lopez (9th Cir.)" (PDF). ca9.uscourts.gov. September 6, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Jason Wolford, et al. v. Anne Lopez (9th Cir.) (2)" (PDF). ca9.uscourts.gov. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
External links
- Leslie E. Kobayashi at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Leslie E. Kobayashi at Ballotpedia
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