CHIEF JUSTICE SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Aug 24, 2022

HONOLULU – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for one vacancy in the District Family Court of the First Circuit, and one vacancy in the District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oahu).

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

Russ S. Awakuni 

Mr. Awakuni is currently employed with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. He is a graduate of Loyola Law School, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1993.

Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos 

Mr. Demetrakopoulos is currently employed with Shim & Chang, AAL, ALC. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1989.

Brandon K. Flores 

Mr. Flores is currently employed with the Child Support Enforcement Agency, Department of the Attorney General. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1996.

Timothy E. Ho 

Mr. Ho is currently employed with the Law Office of Timothy E. Ho, LLC, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1987.

Chastity T. Imamura 

Ms. Imamura is currently employed with the Office of Dispute Resolution, Department of the Attorney General. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002.

John A. Montalbano 

Mr. Montalbano is currently on temporary active duty with the Ninth Mission Support Command, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2001.

Michelle K. Moorhead 

Ms. Moorhead is currently employed with the Office of Child Support Hearings, Department of the Attorney General. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2013.

Steven R. Nichols 

Mr. Nichols is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002.

Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano) 

Ms. Vidinha is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2001.

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 Hawai#i
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 

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

Comments should be postmarked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, September 2, 2022.  All comments will be kept confidential.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, First Circuit Nominees (Release Date: 08/24/2022) (Release Date 08/24/2022)

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawai`i, 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 office of District Family Judge of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawai`i.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of District Family Judge Sherri-Ann L. Chun Iha in June 2022.

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

Russ S. Awakuni
Timothy E. Ho
John Alberto Montalbano
Michelle K. Moorhead
Steven R. Nichols
Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano)

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

Statistics

Total Applicants: 24; 13 Females; 11 Males
Government Attorneys: 11
Private Attorneys: 11
Per Diem Judges: 7
Other Occupation: 2
Age Range: 4 (31-40); 10 (41-50); 8 (51-60); 2 (61-70)
Years Licensed Range: 7 years to 37 years

**Meetings held and decisions made in July 2022 with 7 Commissioners present.

Vacancy advertised for a total of 90 days

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit Nominees (Release Date: 08/24/2022) (Release Date 08/24/2022)

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawai`i, 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 office of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawai`i.  The judicial office has been vacant since the elevation of former District Judge Kevin T. Morikone to the position of Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in December 2021.

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

Russ S. Awakuni
Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Brandon K. Flores
Timothy E. Ho
Chastity T. Imamura
John Alberto Montalbano
Steven R. Nichols
Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano)

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

Statistics

Total Applicants: 28; 15 Females; 13 Males
Government Attorneys: 11
Private Attorneys: 13
Per Diem Judges: 6
Other Occupation: 4
Age Range: 3 (31-40); 10 (41-50); 12 (51-60); 3 (61-70)
Years Licensed Range: 5 years to 37 years

1 Applicant withdrew before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission and is not included in the statistics above

**Meetings held and decisions made in July 2022 with 7 Commissioners present.

Vacancy advertised for a total of 90 days.