John Seabright

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John Michael Seabright' is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. He joined the court in 2005 after a nomination by President George W. Bush (R). He assumed senior status on January 30, 2024. Micah Smith was nominated by President Joe Biden (D) to replace Seabright on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii on September 11, 2023. He was Chief Judge from 2015 to 2022.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Seabright graduated from Tulane University with his bachelor's degree in 1981 and later received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School in 1984.^[1]

Professional career

Seabright was a private practice attorney in Hawaii from 1984 to 1987. He was an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia with the U.S. Attorney's Office from 1987 to 1990. Seabright also served as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii with the U.S. Attorney's Office from 1990 to 2001 and as supervisory assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii from 2001 to 2005. Seabright was an adjunct professor for the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii in 1999, 2000, and 2002.^[1]

Judicial career

District of Hawaii

Seabright was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii by President George W. Bush on February 14, 2005, to a seat vacated by Alan Kay. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2005, on a Senate vote and received commission on April 28, 2005. He was Chief Judge from 2015 to 2022.^[2] Seabright assumed senior status on January 30, 2024.^[1]

Noteworthy cases

Child pornography found by TSA (2011)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SIMON JASPER MCCARTY, No. 1:08-cr-00513-JMS-1)

Judge Seabright threw out evidence from a baggage search conducted by a TSA officer at an airport in Hilo, though the agent found child pornography in Simon McCarty's duffel bag. Seabright said that the TSA exceeded its authority in finding the pornographic material that allowed authorities to arrest McCarty of the United Kingdom.^[3] The case was appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit where it was remanded and sent back to Judge Seabright .^[4]

Healthcare for legal immigrants (2010)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Hawaii (MANUEL D. SOUND v. STATE OF HAWAI'I, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES;, No. 09-1-2022-08)

In November 2010, Seabright ordered the restoring of health benefits to legal aliens equivalent to that of residents. Hawaii attorney Paul Alston filed a class action lawsuit against the Hawaii Department of Human Services after they downgraded the benefit structure for adult legal aliens unable to qualify for federally-funded Medicaid coverage. Alston's clients in the suit included some of the 7,500 low-income adults from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau who migrated to Hawaii legally under the Compacts of Free Association. Alston, who sued with former State Attorney General Margery Bronster, contended his clients’ 14th Amendment Rights (the Equal Protection Clause) were violated when the state reduced their medical coverage.^[5]