--- title: "Richard W. Pollack | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-w-pollack-4129" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Richard W. Pollack Supreme Court of Hawaii · Judge ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Hawaii - State: Hawaii - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Hawaii Supreme Court, 2012-present - Since 1990, he has been an adjunct professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, teaching Evidence and Criminal Procedure - Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, serving from 2012 until his mandatory retirement in 2020 - Pollack joined the Hawaii Supreme Court on August 6, 2012 by Governor Neil Abercrombie to replace Justice James E. Duffy, Jr., after a 24–1 Senate vote. - State Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender, State of Hawaii; 1987-2000 - Deputy Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender, State of Hawaii; 1980-1987 - Associate, Law Office of Sherman S. Hee; from 1979 ### Education - B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 1976 - University of California College of the Law, San Francisco ### Additional information - He has also been a frequent lecturer and, since 2013, held the role of Chair of the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism - Served until July 2, 2020, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. - State Public Defender from 1987 to 2000 and previously worked for seven years as a Deputy Public Defender - Born July 2, 1950. - Date of birth: 1950-07-02 - handling trials and appeals - JD — UC Law San Francisco - Before joining the Supreme Court, Pollack served 12 years as a judge on the Oʻahu First Circuit of the Hawaii State Circuit Courts, presiding over both civil and criminal cases. - His career spans public defense leadership, trial-level judging, and appellate service, leaving a lasting impact on Hawaii’s judicial system and legal education ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/4129/richard-w-pollack/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4129/richard-w-pollack/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4129/richard-w-pollack/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4129/richard-w-pollack/) - [Wikidata: Richard W. Pollack](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16875090) - [Hawaii Judiciary biography: Associate Justice Richard W. Pollack](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/courts/supreme/justices/associate_justice_richard_w_pollack) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-w-pollack-4129", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-w-pollack-4129", "name": "Richard W. Pollack | KnowJudges", "description": "Richard W. Pollack, Supreme Court of Hawaii. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-09", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-w-pollack-4129#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-w-pollack-4129#judge", "name": "Richard W. 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