President Obama Names Kobayashi to United States District Court

President Barack Obama today nominated Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi, to the U.S. District Court of Hawaii.  The nomination was one of five announced today.

Judge Kobayashi serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Hawaii, a position she has held since 1999.  Prior to her appointment, she was an associate attorney (1984-1991) and then partners and managing partner (1991-1999) with the Honolulu firm of Fujiyama, Duffy & Fujiyama.

Before joining the firm, Judge Kobayashi served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu from 1983 to 1984.  She received her J.D. in 1983 from Boston College School of Law and her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1979.

In making the announcement, President Obamba said, “I am honored to nominate these outstanding candidates to serve on the United States District Court bench.”

“They all have long and distinguished records of service, and I am confident they will continue to serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice,” said President Obama.

Others nominated to district courts were Judge Susan Richard Nelson (Minnesota), Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander (Maryland), Judge James K. Bredar (Maryland) and Edmond E. Chang (Illinois).