Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawai’i), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 02/26/2025)
Judicial Selection Commission Press Release, Feb 26, 2025
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 office of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawaiʻi), State of Hawaiʻi. The judicial office became vacant upon the retirement of Circuit Judge Robert D. S. Kim in July 2024.
The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:
• Mark D. Disher
• Brandon K. Flores
• Kauanoe A. D. Jackson
• Scott K. D. Shishido
The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.
Statistics
• Total Applicants: 7; 3 Females; 4 Males
• First Time Applicants: 4
• Government Attorneys: 4
• Private Attorneys: 1
• Judges: 1
• Per Diem Judges: 0
• Other: 1
• Age Range: 0 (31-40); 5 (41-50); 2 (51-60); 0 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 11 years to 29 years
Additional Information
• Days in Recruitment: 344 Days
• Two (2) applicants withdrew before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission and are not included in the statistics above.
• Meeting held and decision made in February 2025 with 6 Commissioners present.
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GOVERNOR GREEN CONSIDERS JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
News Release from Office of the Governor, February 26, 2025
HONOLULU — Four nominees for Circuit Judge for the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (Island of Hawaiʻi) have been announced for consideration. Governor Josh Green, M.D., will nominate a successor to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Circuit Judge Robert D.S., Kim in July of 2024.
The State Judicial Selection Commission transmitted the list of nominees to Governor Green following a thorough review of the qualifications and backgrounds of all applicants.
The nominees are:
Mark D. Disher; currently Deputy Corporation Counsel in the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the Corporation Counsel. He is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Brandon K. Flores; currently Assistant Administrator of the Child Support Enforcement Agency in the state of Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General. Flores is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Kauanoe A.D. Jackson; currently a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, county of Hawaiʻi Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Jackson is a graduate of the Chapman University School of Law (known now as the Dale E. Fowler School of Law).
Scott K.D. Shishido; currently the Hawaiʻi Island Managing Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi. Shishido is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Governor Green must make his appointment within 30 days, or by Friday, March 28, 2025.
The public is invited to provide comments on the nominees via the Governor’s website https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/.
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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, Second Circuit (island of Maui), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 02/26/2025)
Judicial Selection Commission Press Release, Feb 26, 2025
Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3 (as amended by SB 2927 (2024) and election Nov. 5, 2024): “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 four and not more than six nominees for the vacancy presented to the chief justice 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, Second Circuit (island of Maui), State of Hawaiʻi. The judicial office became vacant upon the retirement of District Family Judge Adrianne N. M. L. Heely Caires in May 2024.
The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of District Family Judge in the Second Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:
• Bevanne J. Bowers
• Lance D. Collins
• Zachary P. Raidmae
• Sonya H. Toma
The Chief Justice has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.
Statistics
• Total Applicants: 6; 2 Females; 4 Males
• First Time Applicants: 4
• Government Attorneys: 3
• Private Attorneys: 2
• Per Diem Judges: 2
• Other Occupation: 1
• Age Range: 0 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 1 (51-60); 1 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 11 years to 29 years
Additional Information
• Days in Recruitment: 195 days
• Meeting held and decision made in February 2025 with 7 Commissioners present.
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Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees for the Second Circuit
News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Feb 26, 2025
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 Second Circuit (Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i).
The names submitted for this vacancy by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:
Bevanne J. Bowers
Ms. Bowers is currently employed with the Law Office of Bevanne Bowers and is the Executive Director of Mediation Services of Maui, Inc. She also serves as a per diem District Family Court Judge in the Second Circuit. Bowers is a graduate of the University of Memphis, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2012.
Lance D. Collins
Mr. Collins is currently employed at the Law Office of Lance D. Collins and serves as a per diem District and District Family Court Judge in the Second Circuit. Collins is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2005.
Zachary P. Raidmae
Mr. Raidmae is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender. Raidmae is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2010.
Sonya H. Toma
Ms. Toma is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui. Toma is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2007.
The Chief Justice has the discretion to assign judges to the district or district family court calendar, therefore, 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
E-mail: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov
Comments must be post-marked, e-mailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, March 7, 2025. All comments will be kept confidential.
The individual selected by the Chief Justice is subject to Senate confirmation.