Clarissa Y. Malinao

Professional career

• Circuit Court Judge for the Oʻahu First Circuit in Hawaii, appointed in 2021 by Governor David Ige to replace Edwin C. Nacino, and serves on the Criminal Division and multiple specialty courts
• Early Judicial Role: Per diem judge, Oʻahu First Circuit District Court (2019–2021)
• Position: Circuit Court Judge, Oʻahu First Circuit (15th Division)
• Bachelor degree in criminal justice from Seattle University and a law degree from Whittier Law School in California
• She had held the role of a per diem First Circuit District Court judge for the preceding two years

Education

Additional information

• The Hawaii Senate confirmed Clarissa Y. Malinao for the First Circuit Court in 2021.
• Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii recognized her as an Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney Honoree in 2020.
• Her appointment filled the vacancy created by Edwin C. Nacino’s retirement in 2020.
• handling criminal cases in state and federal courts, and earlier held the role of a Honolulu deputy public defender.
• She most recently practiced on her own
• Malinao leads the Mental Health Court in the First Circuit, a program that redirects offenders from incarceration to community-based treatment with intensive supervision
• focusing on mental health recovery and public safety