David A. Ezra
U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii
Judge David Alan Ezra currently serves by designation on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.
Judge Ezra grew up in Hawai‘i and graduated from St. Louis High School. He attended Chaminade University and UH before receiving a BBA from St. Mary’s University magna cum laude. He went on to graduate first in his class from St. Mary’s University School of Law before serving on active duty as an officer in the Army.
Judge Ezra returned to Hawai‘i and joined the law firm of Anthony, Hoddick, Reinwald & O’Connor. In 1976, he became a partner in the firm, concentrating his practice in construction litigation. He left in 1980 to form his own law firm, Ezra, O’Connor, Moon & Tam, where he was managing director and practiced primarily financial services litigation. Judge Ezra was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i in 1988, becoming the youngest federal judge in the state’s history. He went on to become the state’s longest?serving active federal judge, taking senior judicial status in 2012. He has 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 many districts throughout the country.
Judge Ezra was an adjunct professor at UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law from 1978 to 2012, teaching courses in Legal Remedies and Federal Courts. He served as vice president of the U.S. Federal Judges Association and also served on its board of directors and executive committee. He has been a member of the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, Executive Committee of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Judicial Conference Committee on Administration of the Bankruptcy System, Court?Council Committee on Bankruptcy Appointments, Evaluation Committee of the Ninth Circuit, and Pacific Islands Committee of the Ninth Circuit.
- Hawaii
- Judge
- U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii
- - Current
- Served as chief judge, 1999-2005. Assumed senior status on June 27, 2012.
- Adjunct professor of law
- William S. Richardson School of Law
- -
- Attorney
- Private practice, Honolulu, Hawaii
- -
- U.S. Army Reserve
- -
- Law Clerk
- Office of the Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii
- St. Mary's University School of Law
- J.D. (1972)
- St. Mary's University
- B.B.A. (1969)
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- University of Hawaii Founders Alumni Association
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- St. Mary’s School of Law
- Judicial Conference Budget and Finance Advisory Council
- Member
- Current
- Hawaii State Bar
- Member
- - Current