GOVERNOR LINGLE SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FIRST CIRCUIT COURT JUDICIAL NOMINEES

ADV:  Ed Kubo among Hawaii nominees to fill vacancy on First Circuit Court

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today released a list of judicial nominees that was provided to her by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill a vacancy on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit which covers the island of O‘ahu.  The Governor is inviting the public to submit comments on the nominees as part of her review and selection process. The nominee, if confirmed by the Senate, will fill the vacant position created by the retirement of Judge Karen Blondin.

The list of six nominees is the product of the Judicial Selection Commission’s review of the background and qualifications of all applicants and its evaluation of each applicant. The Commission does not rank the candidates. 

Nominees to fill a vacancy in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu)

Colette Y. Garibaldi – Current position:  district judge, District Court of the First Circuit.  Prior experience:  Per diem district judge, District Court of the First Circuit; deputy prosecuting attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu; contract attorney, law clerk, Koshiba & Young; law clerk, Los Angeles County Municipal Courts, Planning and Research Unit.

Edward H. Kubo, Jr. – Current position: outgoing U.S. Attorney, District of Hawai‘i.  Prior experience: assistant U.S. attorney, District of Hawai‘i; deputy prosecuting attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu; associate trial attorney, Carlsmith and Dwyer; law clerk, Kobayashi and Watanabe.

Edwin C. Nacino – Current position: district judge, District Court of the First Circuit.  Prior experience: associate attorney / partner, Roeca, Louie & Hiraoka; claims manager; attorney, Law Offices of James T. Wong; deputy corporation counsel; Corporation Counsel, Honolulu; deputy prosecuting attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu; law clerk, Judges Ronald Greig and Wendell Huddy; Honolulu Police Department.

Steven M. Nakashima – Current position: partner, Marr, Jones & Wang.  Prior experience: district judge, District Court of the First Circuit; associate and partner, Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel; law clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; law clerk, attorney general, State of Hawai‘i; law clerk, attorney general, State of Oregon.

Dean E. Ochiai – Current position: vice president and managing attorney, First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i, Ltd.  Prior experience: deputy corporation counsel, Corporation Counsel, Honolulu; Damon Key Char & Bocken Law Firm; deputy prosecuting attorney, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu; administrative assistant, whip clerk, State Representative Brian Taniguchi.

Bode A. Uale – Current position: district family judge; Family Court of the First Circuit.  Prior experience: per diem judge district family judge; Family Court of the First Circuit; Law Office of Joseph P. H. Ahuna; deputy public defender, Office of the Public Defender; extern, Judge Wendell Huddy.

The Governor has 30 days from receipt of the list (September 29, 2009) to make her selection.

Public comments on the nominees may be sent via e-mail to Governor.Lingle@hawaii.govor by fax at 808-586-0006.  All comments should be submitted by the close of business on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

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