--- title: "Peter T. Cahill | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-t-cahill-chief-judge-hawaii-circuit-court-second-circuit-hi" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Peter T. Cahill Hawaii Circuit Court, Second Circuit · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Hawaii Circuit Court, Second Circuit - State: Hawaii - Role: Circuit 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 - Circuit Court Judge for the Maui Second Circuit in Hawaii, appointed in 2012, and currently serves a 10‐year term through September 16, 2032 - On September 17, 2012, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald appointed Cahill to the Maui Second Circuit Court of Hawaii, an appointment confirmed by Governor Neil Abercrombie - He and John O’Neill formed Cahill & O’Neill in 1997 and remained partners until Cahill was sworn in as a Circuit Court judge on September 17, 2012 - In 1997, he co‐founded Cahill & O’Neill with John O’Neill, serving as partner until his judicial appointment - After law school, Cahill practiced as a trial lawyer in New Jersey until 1989, when he moved to Maui. ### Education - University of Notre Dame School of Law in — J.D. (1982) - Seton Hall University in — B.A. (1979) ### Additional information - From 1989 through 1997 he practiced with James Krueger, with a focus on personal injury litigation. - Trial lawyer in New Jersey before moving to Maui in 1989. - He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1982, the New York bar in 1988, and the Hawaii bar in 1989 - Peter T. Cahill was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1957. - As Chief Judge of the Maui Second Circuit, Cahill presides over civil and criminal cases in Maui County, including high‐profile matters such as Amir Sheikhan v. - Official site: Hawaii Judiciary – Judge Peter T. Cahill Judiciary - Chief judge service: Chief Judge ## 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/judge-peter-t-cahill) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/judge-peter-t-cahill) - [Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/judge-peter-t-cahill) - [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/judge-peter-t-cahill) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Peter_T._Cahill) - [famous-trials.com](https://famous-trials.com/george-floyd/2716-who-is-judge-cahill) - [publiclawlibrary.org](https://publiclawlibrary.org/retired-judge-peter-cahill-reflects-on-derek-chauvin-trial-bias-hate-mail-and-legacy/) - [professionals.justia.com](https://professionals.justia.com/profile/peter-t-cahill-1506018) - [www.cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/a-closer-look-at-peter-cahill-the-judge-presiding-over-derek-chauvins-trial/) - [people.com](https://people.com/retired-judge-in-derek-chauvin-trial-speaks-out-for-first-time-says-proceedings-were-highlight-of-his-career-11741610) - [www.mprnews.org](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/03/retired-judge-peter-cahill-state-panel-effects-federal-immigration-enforcement-minnesota) - [apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfire-settlement-judge-order-capped-legal-fees-victims-lawyers-464c00b4d18a0c4633c414500ccfe466) - [Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/judge-peter-t-cahill) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-t-cahill-chief-judge-hawaii-circuit-court-second-circuit-hi", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-t-cahill-chief-judge-hawaii-circuit-court-second-circuit-hi", "name": "Peter T. 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