Gov. Ige Appoints Judge Todd Eddins to Hawaii Supreme Court
By Jim Bea Sampaga
Hawaii Governor David Ige has appointed Judge Todd Eddins to the Hawaii Supreme Court as an associate judge, a seat that has been vacant since Associate Justice Richard Pollack’s retirement in June 2020.
In 2017, Judge Eddins was appointed to the First Circuit Court. He presides over 85 jury trials and resolved thousands of legal cases.
“Judge Eddins has the vast knowledge and experience necessary to serve on the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. He has the respect of his peers and I know that he will be a welcome addition to the state’s highest court,” said Gov. Ige in a press release.
He received his bachelor’s degree at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Judge Eddins then went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, where he served as the executive editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review.
Furthermore, he is a former trial attorney at the Office of the Public Defender and a former law clerk to the late Yoshimi Hayashi, retired Hawaii Supreme Court Justice. He also had a private practice until 2017 where he specialized in complex criminal, civil and appellate litigation.
“I have spent my adult life in courtrooms or preparing to enter courtrooms. This is a humbling, thrilling, chicken skin capstone to an enriching career as a trial lawyer and circuit court judge,” said Judge Eddins, thanking his family, friends and colleagues who helped and supported him along the way.
His appointment as Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice is subject to Senate confirmation on Nov. 16, 2020.
If confirmed, Judge Eddins said: “In deciding cases, I aspire to achieve clarity of unclear law, establish statewide uniformity of law, and achieve justice for litigants.”
He is married to Attorney Rowena Sabangan, a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City & County of Honolulu and the daughter of Filipino community leaders, Al and Rose Sabangan of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.
Together, they have four children: Noah (23), Miranda (19), Roscoe (16) and Ruby (8).
“I grew up here and have always embraced Hawai`i’s multi-cultural society,” said Judge Eddins.
“I am delighted that my children are so proud of their Filipino heritage and understand the value of diversity and cultural reverence.”
