Anne E. Lopez Explained

Anne Lopez
Office:18th Attorney General of Hawaii
Governor:Josh Green
Term Start:December 5, 2022
Acting: December 5, 2022 – April 25, 2023
Predecessor:Holly Shikada
Party:Democratic
Education:San Jose State University (BS)
University of Hawaii, Manoa (JD)

Anne E. Lopez (1962/1963)[1] is an American attorney and politician. She has served as Attorney General of Hawaii since December 5, 2022. Prior to her appointment by Governor Josh Green, Lopez was chief operating officer and general counsel for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.[2] [3] She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Education and career

Lopez received her legal education from William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.[4] She worked in private practice with the law firm Chun Kerr Dodd Beaman & Wong for eight years.[5] From 2013 to 2015, Lopez served as a special assistant to Attorney General of Hawaii David M. Louie. At the time of her appointment as Attorney General, she worked at the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation as chief operating officer and general counsel.

Attorney General of Hawaii

In December 2022, Lopez was nominated by Governor Josh Green to succeed Holly Shikada as Attorney General of Hawaii.[6] The Hawaii Senate confirmed Lopez's nomination on April 25, 2023.[7] As Attorney General, Lopez declined to re-file charges against 38 kupuna arrested during the 2019 Thirty Meter Telescope protests.[8]

In the wake of the 2023 Hawaii wildfires, Lopez initiated an independent examination into authorities' response to the fires.[9] She issued subpoenas to three Maui County agencies to push the investigation forward.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Attorney General Anne Lopez Coasts through Senate Confirmation Hearing . April 12, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . Kevin . Dayton . Honolulu Civil Beat.
  2. Web site: Boylan . Peter . 2022-12-02 . Governor-elect nominates health care executive to serve as attorney general . 2023-04-05 . Honolulu Star-Advertiser . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2022-12-08 . Hawaii Governor-Elect Announces AG Nomination . 2023-04-05 . The State AG Report . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2022-12-16 . UH law school alumni appointed to governor's cabinet . 2023-04-05 . University of Hawai'i.
  5. Web site: Anne Lopez . 2024-04-01 . Democratic Attorneys General Association . en-US.
  6. Web site: New AG on the Block: Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez . February 19, 2023 . Troutman Pepper. 29 December 2022 .
  7. Web site: Submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Attorney General, Department of the Attorney General, Gubernatorial Nominee, ANNE LOPEZ, for a term to expire at noon on 12-07-2026. . June 18, 2023 . Hawai'i State Legislature.
  8. Web site: 2023-01-10 . State won't re-file charges against 38 kupuna arrested in TMT protest . 2023-04-05 . Hawaii News Now . en.
  9. Web site: Hawaii Attorney General to probe Maui wildfire response – DW – 08/12/2023 . 2024-04-01 . dw.com . en.
  10. Web site: Irwin . Lauren . 2023-11-28 . Hawaii AG subpoenas 3 Maui agencies over deadly wildfire . 2024-04-01 . The Hill . en-US.