Melanie May at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge, Deputy Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends June 22, 2029
Melanie May
District Court Judge, Deputy Chief Judge · Hawaii District Court, First Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2002-present
- Judge Melanie G. May is a retired Florida appellate judge who served on the Fourth District Court of Appeal from 2002 until her retirement on December 31, 2026, after nearly 25 years on the bench
- 2011–2013 – held the role of Chief Judge of the Fourth District Court of Appeal
- Melanie Mito May was appointed to the Oahu First Circuit District Court by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald in April 2011 and confirmed by the Hawaii Senate
- Deputy Chief Judge, Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit
- Multiple local and national judicial ethics, access to court records, and juvenile justice boards
- In her resignation letter, Judge May expressed gratitude to colleagues, the Broward County community, and the Fourth District for their support during her service
- She also had nine years of experience as an arbitrator in the Court Annexed Arbitration Program
Education
- Hastings College of Law in — J.D. (1996)
- Santa Clara University — B.S.
- Florida Atlantic University — B.A.
Additional information
- Practitioner, 2001-2001
- Practiced at Marr Jones and Wang from 1997 until her judicial appointment, following clerkships for Judges Kevin S.C. Chang and Daniel G. Heely.
- Chief judge service: Deputy Chief Judge
- She also valued her work in Broward County’s Delinquency and Drug Court Divisions
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 August 2, 2026.
Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗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 ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗