John S.W. Lim at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John S.W. Lim
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 1999-present
- John S.W. Lim held the role of an associate judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals from his 1999 appointment by Governor Ben Cayetano until his death on June 13, 2007, aged 55
- His judicial career began in 1993 when Chief Justice Ronald Moon appointed him as a District Family Court judge in Honolulu The Honolulu Advertiser.
- Colleagues and community leaders remembered him as courageous, intelligent, and committed to justice, with his legacy extending through his judicial work and volunteer legal initiatives
Education
- Harvard University — B.A.
- Stanford University — J.D.
Additional information
- Distinguished Hawaii appellate judge, recognized for his legal scholarship, judicial service, and community leadership, who passed away in 2007 at age 55
- In 1995, then-Governor Ben Cayetano appointed him to the Circuit Court, and in 1999 he was elevated to the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10‐year term
- Practitioner, 1998-1998
- Cayetano appointed him to the circuit bench in 1995 and to the appellate court four years later.
- Lim was born in 1952 and completed studies at Farrington High School, Harvard College, and Stanford Law School.
- Date of birth: 1952-01-01
- Allianz, A.G. (145 P.3d 738).
- One of six judges on the appeals court and was known for his intellect, humor, and dedication
- He also held the role of financing and general counsel for the Hawaiʻi Economic Development Corp. and as an associate attorney at Carlsmith, Wichman, Case, Mukai & Ichiki
- Beyond the bench, Lim was a founder and first director of Hawaiʻi Lawyers Care (now Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaiʻi), creating a program that provided free legal services to those unable to afford them.
- His Honolulu Advertiser obituary describes graduation from Farrington High School, Harvard College and Stanford Law School.
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Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals current judicial profile ↗Cameras and Audio Equipment
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗Remote Court Hearings via Zoom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Court Hearings via Zoom ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗John S.W. Lim (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals) – CourtListener.com
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View John S.W. Lim (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals) – CourtListener.com ↗the.honoluluadvertiser.com
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View the.honoluluadvertiser.com ↗