Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, October 2, 2017

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for a vacancy in the District Family Court of the First Circuit (Island of Oahu) as a result of the appointment of Judge Catherine H. Remigio to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.

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

Jessi L.K. Hall

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

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 Hawaii State Bar in 1987.

Ronald G. Johnson

Mr. Johnson is currently employed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1987.

Summer M. M. Kupau-Odo

Ms. Kupau-Odo is currently employed as an Associate Attorney with Earthjustice. Kupau-Odo is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2004.

Kevin T. Morikone

Mr. Morikone is currently employed at 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.

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, October 13, 2017. All comments will be kept confidential.

The individual selected by the Chief Justice is subject to Senate confirmation.

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GOVERNOR IGE TO CONSIDER NOMINEES FOR THREE VACANCIES IN FIRST CIRCUIT COURT (O‘AHU)

News Release from Office of the Governor, Oct 2, 2017

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today received three lists of nominees for three vacancies in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of O‘ahu) from the Judicial Selection Commission.

The commission has nominated the following for the vacancy left by former Circuit Judge Derrick H. M. Chan, who was elevated to the position of Associate Judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals in April 2017.

• James H. Ashford – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• William M. Domingo – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• Jonathan L. Ortiz – Attorney/Partner, Ortiz & Katano
• Rowena A. Somerville – Attorney, Hearings Officer, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
• Matthew J. Viola – Judge, District/Family Court of the First Circuit
• Paul B. K. Wong – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit

There were 28 applicants for this position, including 24 men and six women, 11 government attorneys, 11 private attorneys, four per diem judges and six judges.

The commission has also nominated the following for the vacancy left by the retirement of former Circuit Judge Dexter D. Del Rosario in December 2016:

• James H. Ashford – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• Timothy E. Ho – Chief Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawaii
• Ronald G. Johnson – Assistant United States Attorney, Federal Prosecutor
• James S. Kawashima – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• Matthew J. Viola – Judge, District/Family Court of the First Circuit
• Paul B. K. Wong – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit

There were 23 applicants for this position, including 19 men and four women, 10 government attorneys, 9 private attorneys, two per diem judges and four judges.

And finally, the commission nominated the following for the vacancy left by the retirement of former Circuit Judge Karl K. Sakamoto in December 2016:

• James H. Ashford – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• Timothy E. Ho – Chief Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawai‘i
• Ronald G. Johnson – Assistant United States Attorney, Federal Prosecutor
• James S. Kawashima – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit
• Matthew J. Viola – Judge, District/Family Court of the First Circuit
• Paul B. K. Wong – Judge, District Court of the First Circuit

There were 22 applicants for this position, including 19 men, four women, 11 government attorneys, seven private attorneys, one per diem judge and four judges.

Gov. Ige will interview each nominee and will review public comments received on the governor’s website at governor.hawaii.gov – Contact the Governor.

He has 30 days, until Nov. 1 to make his appointments.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, Oct 2, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Karl K. Sakamoto in December 2016.

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

• James H. Ashford
• Timothy E. Ho
• Ronald G. Johnson
• James S. Kawashima
• Matthew J. Viola
• Paul B. K. Wong

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 22; 4 Females; 18 Males
• Government Attorneys: 11
• Private Attorneys: 7
• Per Diem Judges: 1
• Judges: 4
• Age Range: 1 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 14 (51-60); 3 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 37 years

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, Oct 2, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Dexter D. Del Rosario in December 2016.

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

• James H. Ashford
• Timothy E. Ho
• Ronald G. Johnson
• James S. Kawashima
• Matthew J. Viola
• Paul B. K. Wong

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 23; 4 Females; 19 Males
• Government Attorneys: 10
• Private Attorneys: 9
• Per Diem Judges: 2
• Judges: 4
• Age Range: 1 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 13 (51-60); 5 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range:  13 years to 39 years

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, Oct 2, 2017

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the elevation of former Circuit Judge Derrick H. M. Chan to the position of Associate Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in April 2017.

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

• James H. Ashford
• William M. Domingo
• Jonathan L. Ortiz
• Rowena A. Somerville
• Matthew J. Viola
• Paul B. K. Wong

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 28; 4 Females; 24 Males
• Government Attorneys: 11
• Private Attorneys: 11
• Per Diem Judges: 4
• Judges: 6
• Age Range: 1 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 13 (51-60); 5 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 39 years

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, First Circuit

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, Oct 2, 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 Family Judge, First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the elevation of former District Family Judge Catherine H. Remigio to the position of Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in April 2017.

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

• Jessi L. K. Hall
• Timothy E. Ho
• Ronald G. Johnson
• Summer M. M. Kupau-Odo
• Kevin T. Morikone
• Alvin K. Nishimura

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 25; 8 Females; 17 Males
• Government Attorneys: 11
• Private Attorneys: 14
• Per Diem Judges: 6
• Age Range: 3 (31-40); 6 (41-50); 12 (51-60); 4 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range:  10 years to  37 years