Chief Justice Appoints Stephanie Char Fifth Circuit District Family Court Judge

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Oct 23, 2020

HONOLULU – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald today appointed Stephanie R.S. Char as District Family Court Judge of the Fifth Circuit.

Char has been with the Office of the Public Defender since 2003 and was named Supervising Deputy Public Defender in the Kauai office in 2017.

Char is graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2003. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Communication, as well a Master’s degree in Philosophy, from the University of Denver.

Char has been very active in the Kauai community and currently serves on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board of Directors and is a member of the Kauai Criminal Defense Bar. She has also coached youth soccer and has been a member of the Kauai Economic Opportunity Advisory Board for Mediation Program.

The Chief Justice appoints District Court judges from a list of not less than six nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission. If confirmed by the State Senate, Char will serve a term of six years.

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Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Sep 29, 2020

HONOLULU – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for a position in the District Family Court of the Fifth Circuit (Kauai).

The names submitted for this vacancy by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

Stephanie R.S. Char
Ms. Char is currently employed as a Supervising Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender. Char is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2003.

Russell K.M.K. Goo
Mr. Goo is currently employed as a Deputy Attorney General with the Department of the Attorney General. Goo is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1998.

Thomas A.K. Haia
Mr. Haia is currently employed at Thomas A.K. Haia, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. Haia is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1995.

Gregory H. Meyers
Mr. Meyers is currently employed at Meyers & Meyers LLC. Meyers is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002.

Sara L. Silverman
Ms. Silverman is self-employed, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit. Silverman graduated from DePaul University – College of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1992.

Jennifer S. Winn
Ms. Winn is currently employed as a First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kauai. Winn graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1999.

The Chief Justice has the discretion to assign judges to the district or district family court calendar. Comments about the qualifications and character of any of the nominees with regard to either calendar assignment may be sent, in writing, to:

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald
Supreme Court of Hawaii
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Fax: (808) 539-4703
E-mail: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments must be post-marked, e-mailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, October 9, 2020. All comments will be kept confidential.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, Fifth Circuit Nominees (Release Date: 09/29/2020)

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission  Sep 29, 2020

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The chief justice, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the district courts by appointing a person from a list of not less than six nominees for the vacancy presented by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the new judicial office of District Family Judge, Fifth Circuit (island of Kauai), State of Hawaii formed by the 2019 Legislature under Act 38, Session Laws of Hawaii.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the judicial office of District Family Judge, Fifth Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Stephanie R. S. Char
Russell K. M. K. Goo
Thomas A. K. Haia
Gregory H. Meyers
Sara L. Silverman
Jennifer S. Winn

The Chief Justice has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

Total Applicants: 11; 5 Females; 6 Males
Government Attorneys: 5
Private Attorneys: 6
Per Diem Judges: 4
Age Range: 0 (31-40); 5 (41-50); 3 (51-60); 3 (61-70)
Years Licensed Range: 10 years to 32 years