--- title: "John A. Montalbano | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-a-montalbano-family-court-judge-hawaii-family-court-first-circuit-hi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # John A. Montalbano Hawaii Family Court, First Circuit · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Hawaii Family Court, First Circuit - State: Hawaii - Role: Family Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The official announcement says he had held the role of a per diem District Court judge since 2014 and was on temporary active military duty as Deputy Command Judge Advocate for the 9th MSC - John Alberto Montalbano was named to the First Circuit District Family Court in September 2022 to replace retired Judge Sheri-Ann Iha. - His volunteer work included the Kapolei Access to Justice Room, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, court-annexed arbitration and mock-trial mentoring ### Education ### Additional information - Appointed in 2022 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Sherri-Ann L. Iha - He deployed as trial counsel with the 657th ASG in 2006–2007 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was a Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney from 2002 to 2008. - He graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 2001. - Oʻahu First Circuit Family Court in Honolulu County, Hawaiʻi. - Family Court Judge, Hawaii Family Court, First Circuit. - He earlier practiced family law at Farrell & Associate and civil litigation at Fukunaga Matayoshi Hershey & Ching. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### extended coverage notice Scope: statewide Hawaii requires news media to notify a court coordinator before electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding, including audio recording, film, videotape, or still photography. Evidence excerpt: The news media must notify a court coordinator of their intent to provide any electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding. [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### camera microphone placement Scope: statewide Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules. Evidence excerpt: The judge will decide where cameras and microphones can be placed in the courtroom. Judges differ on this - so please ask. [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/judges_phone_listing_1c) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/judges_phone_listing_1c) - [Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/judges_phone_listing_1c) - [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) - [Remote Court Hearings via Zoom](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/remote-court-hearings-via-zoom-or-webex) - [Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/judges_phone_listing_1c) - [www.courts.state.hi.us](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/2022/09/chief-justice-appoints-district-and-district-family-court-judges-5) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Alberto_Montalbano) - [Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/contact/judges_phone_listing_1c) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-a-montalbano-family-court-judge-hawaii-family-court-first-circuit-hi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-a-montalbano-family-court-judge-hawaii-family-court-first-circuit-hi", "name": "John A. 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