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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 16, 2002

Ceremony honors new U.S. Circuit judge

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

Although he has been on the job for several months already, former Honolulu attorney Richard R. "Rick" Clifton was honored during a ceremony at the federal courthouse yesterday to mark his becoming a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Richard R. Clifton waves to well-wishers at his investiture as a member of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was given the oath of office here yesterday by Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder.

Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Clifton is only the second Hawai'i resident and first person from Hawai'i in 31 years to fill a position within the federal appeals court that reviews challenges to decisions made by federal judges in California, Oregon, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, Hawai'i and Washington state.

Clifton, 51, practiced law in Honolulu for more than 25 years. He began hearing appeal cases in August, a few weeks after a 98-0 confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate.

In a tribute that blended good-natured ribbing with a solemn oath of office, Clifton was helped into a ceremonial robe by his wife, Teresa Morano Clifton, and his children, David and Katherine Clifton.

The oath was administered by Chief Judge Mary Schroeder of the 9th U.S. Circuit while other judges from Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Pasadena, San Francisco and Las Vegas looked on.

In his mostly light-hearted remarks to the audience, Clifton noted at one point that he was the attorney for the Republican Party of Hawai'i for several years running, which he said may have had to do with being a staunch Chicago Cubs fan. Linda Lingle, Republican candidate for governor, attended the ceremony, as did almost all of Hawaii's federal judges.

Clifton told well-wishers he would do his best to "live up to your trust and confidence in me."