Governor Linda Lingle appointed Elizabeth Ann “Betsy” Strance as a Third Circuit judge in the newly created Division 4 in Kona in 2005. She had served since 1999 as a per diem judge for the Third Circuit District and Family Courts and was also a partner in the law firm of Strance and Nakoa. Judge Strance was previously a partner with the Goodsill Anderson Quinn and Stifel law firm, and was an associate with the law firms of Peterson and Gravelle and Greely, Walker, and Kowen. Judge Strance graduated from the law school at Lewis & Clark College.