Corinne Watanabe


Corinne Kaoru Amemiya Watanabe is an American judge from the state of Hawaii. Watanabe was the first female Attorney General of Hawaii from 1985 until 1986.

Early life

Watanabe was born in Wahiawa, Hawaii on the island of Oʻahu. Her parents were Keiji and Setsuko Amemiya. Watanabe attended Leilehua High School in Wahiawa
Watanabe received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa in 1971.
Watanabe attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas and received a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.

Career

Watanabe served as the Attorney General of Hawaii between 1985 and 1986. One case that she judged on was Cobb v. State by Watanabe which tested the resign-to-run laws. The case in question was whether or not State Senator Steve Cobb had to resign his seat in order to become a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. The judgement was that Article II, Section 7 of the Hawaii Constitution did not apply for federal office. Cobb went on to run in the 1986 Special election in Hawaii's 1st congressional district, but came in fourth place.
Watanabe has been a judge on the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals since 1992.