Joanne S.C. Hicks received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California.  She received her Juris Doctor Degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Pacific Law and Policy Journal, earned a Certificate in Environment Law, and clerked with the Hawai'i Innocence Project.  Joanne then served as a Judicial Law Clerk under Second Circuit (Maui) Judge Rhonda I.L. Loo for two years, assisting with a broad range of civil and criminal issues from the State Judiciary perspective.  

Following clerkship, Joanne served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City & County of Honolulu, County of Kauai, and most recently with the County of Maui (2017-2023).  Joanne has extensive experience in criminal case development (investigation conferral and reviewing/approving search warrants and subpoenas), charging of district and felony level offenses, district court and circuit court felony trials, appellate advocacy, asset forfeiture, police recruit training, and was designated as a committed DUI Prosecutor and member of Circuit Court Drug Team. 

Joanne is admitted to practice law in the State of Hawai'i, U.S. District Court - District of Hawai'i, and the U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit.  She is also a member of the Maui County Bar Association, Hawai'i State Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National College for DUI Defense.

Joanne spends her weekends with family, friends, and spearfishing.