Judge Elizabeth A. Strance (ret.) brings a diverse legal background to her work as a neutral.  Judge Strance received her bachelor of science degree from Willamette University in 1982 and her law degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in 1987.  She was in private practice between 1988 and 2005, and then again from 2015-2021. While in private practice, Judge Strance’s work included alternative dispute resolution, civil litigation (personal injury defense, quiet title, real estate disputes, and products liability), general business and real estate law.

In addition to private practice background, Judge Strance has spent a significant portion of her career in public service.  Judge Strance retired from the bench after fifteen years of service.  She first served as a per diem judge in the Hawai’i Third District and Family Courts (11/1999 -3/2005) and subsequently completed a ten-year term as a circuit court judge (2005-2015). As a Hawi’i Third Circuit Court judge, Judge Strance presided over a comprehensive civil and criminal calendar, including bench trials, jury trials, motions practice and hundreds of settlement and pre-plea conferences.  Civil cases included construction disputes, boundary and title matters, lease rent renegotiations, foreclosures, medical malpractice, personal injury, real estate disputes, and probate/trust matters.

From 2021 through 2024, Judge Strance served as Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawai’i where she advised the Mayor, County Council, and County departments on legal issues affecting the County and County Officers on matters related to their official duties. This position also involved facilitating interdepartmental working groups, and managing a staff of over thirty employees including approximately sixteen attorneys.

Judge Strance’s alternative dispute resolution training has included, the STAR training (Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution), Basic and Domestic Mediation Training (West Hawai’i Mediation Center), and Mediation and Conflict Management Master Class (Mediation Center of the Pacific).