GOVERNOR LINGLE NOMINATES FIRST DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA GINOZA AS INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE AND DISTRICT FAMILY COURT JUDGE ROBERT MARK BROWNING AS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today nominated Lisa M. Ginoza to serve as an associate judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals and Robert Mark Browning as a Circuit Court judge of the First Circuit (O‘ahu).  Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Lisa Miyoko Ginoza

Ginoza has served as first deputy attorney general for the State of Hawai‘i since January 2005.  In her current position, she is directly involved in and supervises a variety of matters for the Attorney General’s Office, including litigation by and against the State, advice and counsel to Hawai‘i’s public officials, review of administrative and criminal investigations, asset forfeiture cases and legislative matters. 

“Lisa has been a valuable member of the Attorney General’s Office and has played a lead role in many complex and high-profile cases on behalf of the State and the public,” said Governor Lingle.  “Over the past five years, Lisa has provided legal advice and well-thought-out counsel to my Administration and has always demonstrated integrity, fairness and compassion.  I feel very confident Lisa will do an outstanding job on the Intermediate Court of Appeals where she will continue to serve the public with her legal expertise, strong work ethic and sound judgment.”

Prior to joining the State, Ginoza was a partner with the law firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, where she worked since 1990.  While in private practice, Ginoza specialized in complex litigation, including insurance litigation, personal injury, commercial and contract disputes, employment litigation and product liability cases.

She has also served as an adjunct professor in appellate advocacy at the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.  She was a law clerk for United States District Judge Samuel P. King and worked as summer associate for Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel as well as Shim Tam Kirimitsu Kitamura and Chang.

Ginoza earned her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and served on and published a note in the school’s law review.  She earned her undergraduate degree from Oregon State University, where she was a Presidential Scholar, and graduated with valedictorian honors from Kailua High School.

Robert Mark Browning

Browning has been a district family court judge of the First Circuit since 1997.  During his tenure, he has served as lead/supervising judge of two Family Court divisions – the Special Division, which is responsible for all restraining order, guardianship, paternity, mental health commitment, and adoption cases; and the Domestic Division, which is responsible for all pre-divorce proceedings, divorce trials and all post-divorce proceedings.  He is currently assigned to the Juvenile Division.

In 2003, Browning was appointed the presiding judge of the Juvenile Drug Court and has since presided over 12 Juvenile Drug Court graduations. 

“Judge Browning will bring to the Circuit Court an impressive background and understanding of the judicial process and courtroom procedures,” said Governor Lingle.  “Judge Browning has demonstrated strong leadership skills, fairness and judgment, while presiding over some of the most difficult and emotional cases involving our at-risk youth and vulnerable families.  He has been a respected judge in the District Family Court, and I believe he will be an excellent judge on the Circuit Court bench.”

Prior to his appointment to the Family Court, Browning was a partner with the law firm Shim Tam Kirimitsu Kitamura & Chang.  He also served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the City and County of Honolulu.  He was a law clerk for Ashford & Wriston.

Browning currently serves a number of professional and community boards and committees, including the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative Steering Committee; Hawai‘i Supreme Court Committee on Divorce Proceedings and Procedures (chair); Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition, American Judicature Society; Governor’s Advisory Committee on Native Hawaiian Foster Care; Volunteer Settlement Master Advisory Committee (chair); Judicial Education Committee; Project Visitation Advisory Committee; Hawai‘i Foster Youth Coalition Advisory Board; Hawai‘i State Trial Judges Association; Ka‘ahumanu Hale Advisory Committee; and National Junior Basketball Association (coach).

Browning is a graduate of Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law and University of the South.

Governor Lingle selected Ginoza from a list of five candidates submitted to her by the Judicial Selection Commission on January 21, 2010.  Browning’s name was among six candidates submitted to the Governor by the Commission on the same day.  The Governor made the lists available to the public to solicit public comments on the five candidates.

If confirmed by the State Senate, Ginoza will fill the vacant seat created by the retirement of Associate Judge Corrine Watanabe, and Browning will replace Judge Victoria Marks who also retired last year.

With these two latest nominations, Governor Lingle has appointed six judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals and 14 judges to the Circuit Court since taking office in December 2002.  She also has named two justices to the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

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