Today, the Hawaiʻi State Senate voted to confirm the Governor’s Circuit Court appointments of Rebecca A. Copeland, Brian A. Costa, Dyan M. Medeiros, and Steven R. Nichols to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu). Earlier in the week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on each appointment, and all testimony received for Copeland, Costa, Medeiros, and Nichols was in support of their appointments. Each of the new judges was deemed “Qualified” by the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.
“All four appointees demonstrated the experience, curiosity, and commitment required of a judge,” said Senator Karl Rhoads (Senate District 13, Dowsett Highlands, Puʻunui, Nuʻuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown), Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. “After having met with Judge Copeland, Judge Costa, Judge Medeiros, and Judge Nichols, I am confident that each will serve our State with honor and integrity, and I extend my sincerest mahalo and congratulations to them all.”
Rebecca A. Copeland has been confirmed to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit as a Circuit Court Judge. Copeland will succeed Judge Gary Chang, who is retiring at the end of June 2024. Copeland served as a District Family Court Judge for the Family Court of the First Circuit since 2020. Between 2016-2020, she served as a Per Diem District Court Judge. Copeland has experience in operating the Law Office of Rebecca A. Copeland, LLC, working for Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, and as Adjunct Professor for the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, St. Mary’s University School of Law (in San Antonio), and Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Additionally, Copeland has served as Deputy Solicitor General, Appellate Division, for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General and was a law clerk for Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals. Copeland received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southwest Texas State University and a Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Brian A. Costa has been confirmed to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit as a Circuit Court Judge and will succeed Judge Jeffrey Crabtree, who retired in January 2024. Costa has served as a District Family Court Judge for the Family Court of the First Circuit since 2017 and most recently as the Lead Judge of the Juvenile Division and Presiding Judge of Juvenile Drug Court. Between 2015-2017, he served as a Per Diem District Court Judge. Costa’s professional experience includes being an attorney, member, and manager of the law firm Costa & DeLacy, LLLC, serving as a Honolulu Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and working as an associate for Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel. Costa additionally was a law clerk for Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. Costa received an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences in Business Administration from Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY, a Bachelor of Science in Management from Hawaiʻi Pacific University, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Dyan M. Medeiros has been confirmed to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit as a Circuit Court Judge. Medeiros will succeed Judge R. Mark Browning who retired in December 2023. Medeiros has served as a District Family Court Judge for the Family Court of the First Circuit since 2015 and most recently as the Lead Judge of the Domestic Division and Presiding Judge of Girls Court. Prior to serving as a Judge, Medeiros was a partner with Kleintop, Luria & Medeiros, an associate attorney with Stirling & Kleintop, and an associate attorney with Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert. Medeiros received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and received a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Steven R. Nichols has been confirmed to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit as a Circuit Court Judge. Nichols will succeed Judge Edward Kubo who retired in December 2019. Most recently, Nichols served as a Per Diem Judge for the Family Court of the First Circuit and operates the Law Office of Steven R. Nichols. Nichols previously served as Deputy Public Defender for twenty years and was a law clerk for First Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario. Nichols received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law.