Shanlyn A.S. Park has been confirmed as a District Judge for Hawaii, making her the first Native Hawaiian woman to serve as a federal judge in U.S. history. Her appointment is a significant step in enhancing representation within the judiciary, especially considering Native Hawaiians constitute 21.8% of Hawaii's population. Park, who was previously a state circuit court judge and has worked in private practice and the Federal Public Defender's Office, has also been recognized for her pro bono work in employee discrimination cases. The National Native American Bar Association emphasized the importance of such appointments in fostering trust in the judicial system. Despite this progress, Native Americans remain underrepresented in federal judiciary positions
Photo Credit: Sasun Bughdaryan
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