Notice of Anticipated Judicial Vacancy – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu) (Release Date: 09/27/2024)

News Release from JSC, September 27, 2024

The Judicial Selection Commission is accepting applications and nominations to fill the following anticipated judicial vacancy in the State of Hawaiʻi:

Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu)

The Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi requires that the persons selected by the Commission be residents and citizens of the State of Hawaiʻi and of the United States, and have been licensed to practice law by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.  A circuit judge shall have been licensed for a period of not less than ten years preceding nomination.  No judge shall, during the term of office, engage in the practice of law, or run for or hold any other office or position of profit under the United States, the State or its political subdivisions.

The term of office of a circuit judge shall be ten years.  The annual salary in Hawaiʻi of a circuit judge is $217,104. [1]

Every judge of a circuit court shall reside in the circuit for which the judge is appointed under Section 603-6 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.

The Chief Justice has the discretion to make assignments of calendars among the circuit judges as provided under Section 601-2 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statute.

Full-time judges also receive employer contributions to premiums for enrollment in the state-sponsored medical, drug, vision and dental plans, a free life insurance policy, state retirement benefits, a deferred compensation supplemental retirement savings plan, 13 paid holidays annually (14 days during election years), 21 vacation and 21 sick leave days per year.  Benefits are subject to modification or termination due to changes in statutes, pertinent rules and regulations.  Judges shall be retired upon attaining the age of seventy years.

The Commission invites anyone from all islands who meets the constitutional requirements and is interested in the position to apply directly to the Commission.

The Commission also invites persons to nominate qualified individuals for the position.  Nominators: Mail your nomination to the address below with the nominee’s full name and mailing address as soon as possible and not later than the nomination deadline of November 12, 2024.

TO APPLY: Please visit the Commission’s website and fill out form JS-P-084, Application for Judicial Office Form.  The application must be postmarked to the address below on or before the application deadline of December 26, 2024.

Commission Chair Kamani B. Kualaʻau
Judicial Selection Commission
State of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813

[1]  The salary is current as of the press release date and is subject to change.  The salary is determined by the Commission on Salaries pursuant to Article XVI, Section 3.5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi and Section 26-56, of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, and any subsequent action taken by the Legislature.