WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye is pleased to announce that Susan Oki Mollway was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a United States District Court Judge.

"This is indeed welcome news for the State of Hawaii. I wish to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Ms. Oki Mollway in her new and challenging endeavor. She is most qualified for the position of United States District Court Judge. Her leadership and legal expertise will be of great benefit in her new capacity as a federal court judge. She will, no doubt, represent the people of Hawaii and our nation with much integrity. I am pleased to have played a role in her appointment," said Senator Inouye.

Less than six months after Judge Helen Gillmore took her seat in October 1994, Hawaii District Judge Harold M. Fong passed away unexpectedly in April 1995. Hawaii's U.S. District Court was again back to three judges, though the Congress had determined in 1990 that a fourth judgeship was warranted due to caseload.

Since 1986, Ms. Mollway has been a partner at the law firm of Cades, Schutte, Fleming, & Wright. She specializes in civil litigation and has handled cases involving employment discrimination, contract disputes, class actions, real estate, lender liability, copyrights and trademarks, product liability, personal injury, insurance coverage, anti-trust issues, and labor law. Ms. Mollway also taught appellate advocacy at the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law and participated as an arbitrator with Hawaii's court-annexed arbitration program.

Ms. Mollway attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she earned a bachelor's degree and a masters in English literature, and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Ms. Mollway is the daughter of Eichi and Nobuko Oki. Mr. Eichi Oki served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Ms. Mollway is married to Daniel J. Mollway, who is the Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission. They have one son.