Maria F. Penn at a glance
- Current role
- Family Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends August 13, 2031
Maria F. Penn
Family Court Judge · Hawaii Family Court, First Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- She had held the role of a per diem District Family Court judge since May 2022.
- Sworn in on August 14, 2025 as a District Family Court Judge for the First Circuit (Oʻahu).
- Sworn in as a First Circuit District Family Court judge on August 14, 2025 for a six-year term, following her April 4 appointment by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.
- Her appointment was part of a trio of new judges (with Wilson A. Unga and Rochelle I. Vidinha) sworn in by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, marking the last such event before the Chief Justice’s retirement in 2025
Education
- University of Hawaiʻi William S
Additional information
- She graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 2003.
- Family Court Judge, Hawaii Family Court, First Circuit.
- District Family Court Judge for the First Circuit (Oʻahu) and a per diem judge in the Oʻahu First Circuit District Court, with a background in family law, civil litigation, and legal advocacy
- She also practiced family law in divorce and paternity cases and volunteered as a Family Court settlement master.
- As a solo practitioner she handled medical malpractice, personal injury, civil-rights and police-brutality claims, contract disputes and other civil litigation.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Extended Coverage Notice
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.
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 ↗
Camera Microphone Placement
Statewide
Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.
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 ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster ↗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 ↗Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster ↗www.courts.state.hi.us
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View www.courts.state.hi.us ↗www.courts.state.hi.us
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View www.courts.state.hi.us ↗