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Sabrina S. McKenna
Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
Background: McKenna spent her early legal career in private practice. She was also a law professor.
At a glance
- Court
- Hawaii Supreme Court
- Position / seat
- Not listed
- Chief justice
- No
- How they joined the court
- Appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) (January 25, 2011); retained by voters in a retention election in March 2021
- Appointed by
- Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D)
- Appointment date
- January 25, 2011
- Took office
- May 6, 2026
- Current term ends
- March 2, 2031
- Next election or retention vote
- Not listed
- Last election
- Not listed
- Party (as listed by Ballotpedia)
- Nonpartisan
- Ballotpedia partisanship estimate
- Mild Democrat (2020 study of justices' pre-court partisan activity)
- Education
- Bachelor's: University of Hawaii, Manoa
- Law: University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, 1982
- Prior offices
- O`ahu First Circuit Family Court Acting Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice (2025 - 2026)
- Hawaii Supreme Court (2011 - 2025)
- Profession
- Not listed
- How this court's justices are chosen
- Assisted appointment (Hybrid)A nominating commission screens candidates and sends a shortlist; the governor appoints from it. In many such states, justices later face yes/no retention elections.
Summary of facts listed on Sabrina S. McKenna’s Ballotpedia page (retrieved Oct 26, 2026) · Photo: Ballotpedia. “Not listed” means Ballotpedia didn’t list it in a form this site could read; check Ballotpedia for the latest.
No public decision data available for this court.