HONOLULU, Hawaii – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for a vacancy in the District Court of the Third Circuit (Island of Hawaii) as a result of the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Barbara T. Takase. The names submitted for this vacancy by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

Kevin S. Hashizaki
Mr. Hashizaki is currently employed as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the County of Hawai‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Hashizaki is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1995.

Peter K. Kubota
Mr. Kubota is currently employed at Peter K. Kubota, Attorney at Law, A Law Corporation. Kubota is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1989.

Michelle K. Laubach
Ms. Laubach is currently employed at Laubach & Frenz, Attorneys At Law, L.L.L.C. Laubach is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2003.

Laureen L. Martin
Ms. Martin is currently employed as Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawai‘i. Martin is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1993.

Darien W.L.C. Nagata
Ms. Nagata is currently employed as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the County of Hawai‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Nagata is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1997.

Jeffrey W.S. Ng
Mr. Ng is currently employed as a deputy public defender for the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. Ng is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002.

Because 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 Hawaii
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

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

Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Monday, March 28, 2016. All comments will be kept confidential.

The individual selected by the Chief Justice is subject to Senate confirmation.