The Honorable David A. Ezra

Judge David Alan Ezra grew up in Hawai‘i and graduated from St. Louis High School. He then attended Chaminade College and the University of Hawai‘i, receiving a B.B.A. degree Magna Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University. Judge Ezra then attended and graduated number one in his class from St. Mary’s University Law School before entering military service.

Judge Ezra returned to Hawai‘i after finishing active duty and became associated with the law firm of Anthony, Hoddick, Reinwald & O’Connor. In 1976, he became a partner in that firm concentrating his practice in the field of construction litigation. In 1980, he left the Anthony, Hoddick firm to form his own law firm which was known for several years as Ezra, O’Connor, Moon & Tam. During that time, Judge Ezra was the Managing Director of the firm and also had an active practice concentrating in the area of financial services litigation.

Judge Ezra was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i in 1988, becoming the youngest federal judge in Hawai‘i history, and is now the longest serving active federal judge in Hawai‘i’s history. He has since handled complex litigation matters in Hawai‘i , and by designation of the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit and the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, in the many districts throughout the country.

Judge Ezra has been an Lecturer in Law at the Law School since 1978, teaching courses in Legal Remedies and Federal Courts. He serves as Vice President of the U.S. Federal Judges Association, on which he also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee; a past member of the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit; a past member of the Executive Committee of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference; a past member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Administration of the Bankruptcy System; a past member of the Court-Council Committee on Bankruptcy Appointments; served on the Board of Trustees of St. Louis High School; a past member of the Evaluation Committee of the Ninth Circuit; a past member of the Pacific Islands Committee of the Ninth Circuit; on the Board of Directors of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society; and the past President of the Ninth Circuit U.S. District Judges Association, the first federal judge from Hawai‘i ever to serve in that capacity.

Judge Ezra was elected by the judges of the Ninth Circuit to a three-year term as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States which governs the operations of the Federal Judiciary (2002-2005). Judge Ezra is the first and only judge from Hawai‘i to be elected a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States. In 2007, Judge Ezra was awarded the prestigious Rosewood Gavel Award for his contributions to the adjudication of justice. Past recipients of this award include Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.