Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees

News Release from JSC, Jul 5, 2023

HONOLULU – 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 Oʻahu).

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

Robert J. Brown
Mr. Brown is currently employed with Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2014.

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

David M. Hayakawa
Mr. Hayakawa is currently employed with the Law Office of David Hayakawa. He 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 an Administrative Hearings Officer with the Office of Dispute Resolution, Department of the Attorney General. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2002.

Erika E. Ireland
Ms. Ireland is currently employed with Erika E. Ireland, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1997.

Jordon J. Kimura
Mr. Kimura is currently employed with McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2009.

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 Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2002.

Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano)
Ms. Vidinha is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu.  She is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi
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, July 14, 2023.  All comments will be kept confidential.