GOVERNOR LINGLE APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF MARK RECKTENDWALD AS CHIEF JUSTICE

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today commended the State Senate for confirming Mark E. Recktenwald as the next Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice:

“I am very pleased that the State Senate has voted unanimously to confirm Mark Recktenwald to be the fifth Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court.

“The people of Hawai‘i can feel confident, as I am, that they will have a Chief Justice who will guide our courts with fairness and integrity in upholding the rule of law and our constitution.

“I commend the Senate for conducting a fair and timely confirmation hearing.  I also want to thank the members of the public who took the time to submit comments to me as I made my selection, as well as those in the community who submitted testimony or testified at the confirmation hearing.

“Over the past year as a Supreme Court Associate Justice and two years prior as Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Chief Justice-Designee Recktenwald’s performance has been exceptional.  The public’s comments and testimony – from individuals in the legal community and across the political spectrum – gave us further insight into his strong legal intellect, thoughtful leadership and upstanding character.

“I look forward to taking part in the official swearing in of Hawai‘i’s next Chief Justice – Mark Recktenwald – and seeing him preside over our state’s Judiciary.”

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