Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, February 14, 2017

HONOLULU, HI – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for three vacancies in the District Court of the First Circuit (Island of Oahu) as a result of the retirement of Judges Gerald H. Kibe, David W. Lo, and Barbara P. Richardson.

The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

Thomas J. Brady

Mr. Brady is currently employed as Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaiʻi.  Brady is a graduate of George Washington University National Law Center and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1987.

Brian A. Costa

Mr. Costa is currently employed at Costa & DeLacy, LLLC, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit.  Costa is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2001.

Jessi L.K. Hall

Ms. Hall is currently employed at Kleintop & Luria, LLP.  Hall is a graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1999.

Jeffrey A. Hawk

Mr. Hawk is currently employed at the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Hawk, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit.  Hawk is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1997.

Darolyn H. Lendio Heim

Ms. Lendio Heim is currently employed at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, LLP.  Lendio Heim is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1984.

Timothy E. Ho

Mr. Ho is currently employed as Chief Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawaiʻi Office of the Public Defender.  Ho is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1987.

Chastity T. Imamura

Ms. Imamura is currently employed as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu.  Imamura is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2002.

Craig W. Jerome

Mr. Jerome is currently employed as Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Hawaiʻi.  Jerome is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2007.

Tana K. Kekina-Cabaniero

Ms. Kekina-Cabaniero is currently employed as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu.  Kekina-Cabaniero is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1995.

Trish K. Morikawa

Ms. Morikawa is currently employed at Gallagher Kane Amai and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit.  Morikawa is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1995.

Kevin T. Morikone

Mr. Morikone is currently employed with Hosoda & Morikone, LLC, and serves as Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit.  Morikone is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2007.

Alvin K. Nishimura

Mr. Nishimura is currently employed at Alvin Nishimura, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the First Circuit.  Nishimura is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1985.

Jonathan L. Ortiz

Mr. Ortiz is currently employed at Ortiz & Katano.  Ortiz is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1978.

Rowena A. Somerville

Ms. Somerville is currently employed as a Hearings Officer with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.  Somerville is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1996.

Because 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 Hawaiʻi

417 S. King Street

Honolulu, HI 96813

Fax: 808-539-4703

Email: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, February 24, 2017.  All comments will be kept confidential.

The individuals selected by the Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.

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District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit Nominees

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, February 14, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, 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 judicial vacancy of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of District Judge Barbara P. Richardson in December 2016.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office in the District Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

• Brian A. Costa
• Jeffrey A. Hawk
• Craig W. Jerome
• Tana K. Kekina-Cabaniero
• Trish K. Morikawa
• Kevin T. Morikone

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 46; 12 Females; 34 Males
• Government Attorneys:  22
• Private Attorneys: 24
• Per Diem Judges:  8
• Age Range:  3 (31-40); 16 (41-50); 20 (51-60); 7 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 9 years to 38 years

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District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit Nominees

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, February 14, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, 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 judicial vacancy of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi. The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of District Judge David W. Lo in December 2016.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office in the District Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

• Thomas J. Brady
• Brian A. Costa
• Jessi L. K. Hall
• Jeffrey A. Hawk
• Darolyn Lendio Heim
• Jonathan L. Ortiz

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 42; 10 Females; 32 Males
• Government Attorneys: 20
• Private Attorneys: 22
• Per Diem Judges: 8
• Age Range: 3 (31-40); 15 (41-50); 17 (51-60); 7 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 9 years to 38 years

  *   *   *   *   *

District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit Nominees

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, February 14, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, 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 judicial vacancy of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of District Judge Gerald H. Kibe in December 2016.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office in the District Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

• Brian A. Costa
• Timothy E. Ho
• Chastity T. Imamura
• Trish K. Morikawa
• Alvin K. Nishimura
• Rowena A. Somerville

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants:  42; 10 Females; 32 Males
• Government Attorneys:  20
• Private Attorneys:  22
• Per Diem Judges: 8
• Age Range:  3 (31-40); 15 (41-50); 17 (51-60); 7 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 9 years to 38 years