Thomas R. Sylvester Transferred to Inactive Status

HI Disciplinary Board

Filed February 19th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi, through its Disciplinary Board, has ordered the immediate transfer of attorney Thomas R. Sylvester to inactive status. This action is based on a petition filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and is effective upon the filing of the order.

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What changed

The Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi has issued an order transferring attorney Thomas R. Sylvester (Bar No. 4027) to inactive status, effective February 19, 2026. This decision follows a petition filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel on behalf of the Disciplinary Board, citing Rule 2.19 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi. The order mandates that Mr. Sylvester remain on inactive status until further court order.

This transfer means Mr. Sylvester is no longer authorized to practice law in Hawaiʻi. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is to hold any ongoing proceedings against him in abeyance as required by the rules. The Disciplinary Board is responsible for publishing a notice of this status change, and the clerk of the court will distribute certified copies of the order to all Hawaiʻi judges. Compliance officers should note this disciplinary action affecting a legal professional within the jurisdiction.

What to do next

Publish notice of attorney's transfer to inactive status.
Distribute certified copy of order to all judges in Hawaiʻi.

Source document (simplified)

SCAD-26-0000063 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE HAWAIʻI SUPREME COURT, Petitioner, vs. THOMAS R. SYLVESTER (Bar No. 4027), Respondent. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (ODC Case No. 20-0236) ORDER TO TRANSFER TO INACTIVE STATUS (By: McKenna, Acting C.J., Eddins, and Ginoza, JJ., and Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Leonard, in place of Devens, J., recused, and Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge McCullen, assigned by reason of vacancy) Upon review of the January 28, 2026 petition filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel on behalf of the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, requesting this court to immediately transfer Respondent Thomas R. Sylvester to inactive status under Rule 2.19 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi (RSCH), and the record, we conclude that transfer to inactive status is warranted. Electronically FiledSupreme CourtSCAD-26-000006319-FEB-202609:54 AMDkt. 7 ORDI do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the official court record of the Courts of the State of Hawaii.Dated at: Honolulu, Hawaii 19-FEB-2026, /s/ Elizabeth Zack, Clerk of the Supreme Court, State of Hawai`i

Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows: A. The Disciplinary Board’s petition is granted.Respondent Thomas R. Sylvester is transferred to inactive status in this jurisdiction pursuant to RSCH Rules 2.19(b) and 2.19(c), effective with the filing of this order. Respondent Sylvester shall remain on inactive status until further order of this court. B. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall hold inabeyance any proceeding against Respondent Sylvester to the extent required by RSCH Rule 2.19(h). C. In accordance with RSCH Rule 2.19(d), the Disciplinary Board shall publish a notice of this transfer to inactive status. D. The clerk of the court shall transmit a certifiedcopy of this order to all judges of the State of Hawaiʻi. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, February 19, 2026. /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Todd W. Eddins /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza /s/ Katherine G. Leonard /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen