Applicants Sought for District Court Per Diem Judges

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary March 31, 2015

HONOLULU –The District Court of the First Circuit is accepting applications from attorneys interested in serving as Per Diem District Judges. Application forms are available at:

(1) the Ho'okele Counter on the first floor of the Circuit Court Building at 777 Punchbowl Street;

(2) the District Court Concierge Kiosk on the Plaza level of the District Court Building at 1111 Alakea Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 (or at the District Court Service Center located on the 3rd floor when the Concierge Kiosk is closed);

(3) the Ho'okele Counter on the first floor of the Kapolei Courthouse located at 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707.

An original and three copies of completed applications may be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges

ATTN: Judge R. Mark Browning

4675 Kapolei Parkway

Honolulu, HI 96707

An additional copy must be mailed or hand delivered directly to the Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald

Supreme Court of Hawaii

417 South King Street

Honolulu, HI 96813

Applications for consideration may be submitted no later than Tuesday, May 12, 2015.

Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution, applicants must be residents and citizens of the State and of the United States, and must have been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Hawaii for a period of not less than five years preceding nomination. Please be advised that the Commission on Judicial Conduct has indicated in a formal opinion that any per diem judge and his/her partners and associates may not practice in the court to which the per diem judge is assigned. Furthermore, pursuant to the Hawaii State Constitution, government employees (federal, state, or county) are disqualified from serving as per diem judges. Additionally, once appointed, per diem judges are prohibited from holding other public positions for profit (e.g., teaching at the William S. Richardson School of Law.)

Per Diem Judges are part-time judges appointed by the Chief Justice on an "as needed basis" to preside in the District Court or Family Court.

After receiving instructions and filling out the application form, nominees are interviewed by the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges and upon selection, an order of appointment must be filed. After they take the oath of office, the per diem judge is ready for assignments.

During their term of service, a per diem judge may still engage in the private practice of law. Compensation is received only for the days which actual service is rendered based on the monthly rate of compensation paid to a district court judge.

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