Acting Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees for the First and Third Circuits

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Feb 12, 2026

HONOLULU – Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna announced today that she is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for two vacancies in the District Court of the First Circuit (Oʻahu) and one vacancy in the District Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi Island – Kona).

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

DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (Oʻahu)

Earl Edward L. Aquino
Mr. Aquino is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender. Aquino is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1999.

Russ S. Awakuni
Mr. Awakuni is currently employed as the Managing Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi. Awakuni is a graduate of Loyola Law School, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1993.

William C. Bagasol
Mr. Bagasol is currently employed with the Law Office of William C. Bagasol, LLLC. He also serves as a Per Diem District Family Court Judge in the First Circuit. Bagasol is a graduate of the University of California Law, San Francisco, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1987.

Kyle T. Dowd
Mr. Dowd is currently employed with the Law Office of Kyle T. Dowd, LLLC. He also serves as a Per Diem District Family Court Judge in the First Circuit. Dowd is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2011.

Kirsha K.M. Durante
Ms. Durante is currently employed as the Litigation Director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Durante is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2004.

Chastity T. Imamura
Ms. Imamura is currently employed as a Hearings Officer with the Office of Dispute Resolution at the Department of the Attorney General. Imamura is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2002.

Simeona L.L.A. Mariano
Ms. Mariano is currently employed as a Deputy Attorney General with the Department of the Attorney General. Mariano is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2004.

Michelle K. Moorhead
Ms. Moorhead is currently employed as an attorney with Maximum Legal Services Corporation. She also serves as a Per Diem District Family Court Judge in the First Circuit. Moorhead is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2013.

Scott M. Spallina
Mr. Spallina is currently employed as the Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu. Spallina is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1995.

Dean K.K.O. Young
Mr. Young is currently employed as a Per Diem District Court Judge in the First Circuit, and as the General Manager of DSR dba Marlin Distributors and D’s Discount. Young is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1996.

DISTRICT COURT OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT (Hawaiʻi Island – Kona)

Mark D. Disher
Ms. Disher is employed as a Deputy Corporation Counsel with the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the Corporation Counsel. Disher is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2008.

Catherine E. Gibson
Ms. Gibson is employed with Catherine E. Gibson Law Corporation. Gibson is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2013.

Andrew M. Kennedy
Mr. Kennedy is employed with Schlueter, Kwiat & Kennedy, LLLP. Kennedy is a graduate of Suffolk University School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar
in 2012.

Charles E. Murray III
Mr. Murray is employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaiʻi. Murray is a graduate of George Mason University Law School, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2015.

Dalilah E. Schlueter
Ms. Schlueter is currently employed with Dalilah E. Schlueter, Attorney at Law, LLLC. She also serves as a Per Diem District and District Family Court Judge in the Third Circuit. Schlueter is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2015.

Andrew D-I. Son
Mr. Son is currently employed as a Supervising Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaiʻi. Son is a graduate of Loyola Law School, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2006.

The Acting 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:

Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna
Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

E-mail: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments must be post-marked, e-mailed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, February 19, 2026. All comments will be kept confidential.

The individuals selected by the Acting Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release - District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi Nominees (Release Date:  02/11/2026)

JSC Press Release, Feb 11, 2026

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 Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office became vacant upon the elevation of former District Judge Karin L. Holma to the position of Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in May 2025.

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
• William C. Bagasol
• Kyle T. Dowd
• Kirsha K. M. Durante
• Chastity T. Imamura
• Simeona L. L. A. Mariano

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 17; 5 Females; 12 Males
• First Time Applicants: 1
• Government Attorneys: 7
• Private Attorneys: 8
• Per Diem Judges: 5
• Other: 2
• Age Range: 1 (31-40); 8 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 1 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 11 years to 31 years

Additional Information

• One (1) Applicant withdrew before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission and is not included in the statistics above.
• Days in Recruitment: 90 days
• Meetings held and decision made in January 2026 with 7 Commissioners present.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release - District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi Nominees (Release Date:  02/11/2026) - Act 231 (SLH2025)

JSC Press Release, Feb 11, 2026

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 new judicial office of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi formed by the 2025 Legislature under Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi

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

• Earl Edward L. Aquino
• Kirsha K. M. Durante
• Chastity T. Imamura
• Michelle K. Moorhead
• Scott M. Spallina
• Dean K. K. O. Young

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 27; 8 Females; 19 Males
• First Time Applicants: 5
• Government Attorneys: 10
• Private Attorneys: 13
• Per Diem Judges: 6
• Other: 4
• Age Range: 2 (31-40); 14 (41-50); 10 (51-60); 1 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 10 years to 31 years

Additional Information

• One (1) Applicant withdrew before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission and is not included in the statistics above.
• Days in Recruitment: 90 days
• Meetings held and decision made in January 2026 with 7 Commissioners present.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release - District Judge, District Court of the Third Circuit (Island of Hawaiʻi), State of Hawaiʻi Nominees (Release Date:  02/11/2026)

JSC Press Release, Feb 11, 2026

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 new judicial office of District Judge, District Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawaiʻi), State of Hawaiʻi formed by the 2025 Legislature under Act 232, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi

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

• Mark D. Disher
• Catherine E. Gibson
• Andrew M. Kennedy
• Charles E. Murray, III
• Dalilah E. Schlueter
• Andrew D. Son

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 9; 3 Females; 6 Males
• First Time Applicants: 3
• Government Attorneys: 4
• Private Attorneys: 5
• Per Diem Judges: 1
• Other: 0
• Age Range: 0 (31-40); 7 (41-50); 2 (51-60); 0 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range: 11 years to 22 years

Additional Information

• Days in Recruitment: 90 days
• Meetings held and decision made in February 2026 with 5 Commissioners present.