DENVER — Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justice Sabrina S. McKenna received the 2023 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award on August 6 at the 33rd Annual ceremony in Denver, Colo.

Presented by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, it recognizes five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.

Justice McKenna was nominated by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, which noted that she “is a globally recognized trailblazer, a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and a true role model, mentor, and heroine to women, especially in the LGBTQ and underrepresented communities. She epitomizes the spirit of Margaret Brent through her values, lived experiences, courage, and most importantly, her tireless dedication to inspiring and uplifting women and traditionally marginalized people with compassion, positivity, and optimism.”

“I am extremely humbled by this recognition,” Justice McKenna said. “I have been the beneficiary of the vision and leadership of women like Patsy Takemoto Mink, whom I consider my hero and guiding inspiration, to serve our community and motivate women to learn the law and use it to better the world.”

In her acceptance speech on Sunday, Justice McKenna spoke about the importance of state courts and remarked, “I humbly accept this award on behalf of all the women lawyers and judges in Hawaiʻi as well as all the women who have served and continue to serve as state court judges.”