For Immediate Release: February 17, 2012

JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE DISTRICT JUDGE, FIRSTCIRCUIT COURT NOMINEES

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Section 3: “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 six nominees for the vacancy presented by the Judicial Selection Commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for each of two judicial vacancies in the District Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii (Oʻahu). The judicial offices were formerly held by District Court Judges William A. Cardwell and District Court Judge Russel S. Nagata, both of whom retired at the end of 2011.

The first list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill one of the vacancies is as follows, in alphabetical order:

• Brian A. Costa
• Shirley M. Kawamura
• Alvin K. Nishimura
• Maura McDermott Okamoto
• Kevin A. Souza
• Paul B.K. Wong

The second list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the remaining District Court vacancy is as follows, in alphabetical order:

• Brian A. Costa
• Paula Devens
• Nelson W.S. Goo
• Shirley M. Kawamura
• James S. Kawashima
• Stephen H. Levins
• Linda S. Martell
• Alvin K. Nishimura
• Maura McDermott Okamoto
• Kevin A. Souza
• Paul B.K. Wong

Chief Justice Recktenwald has 30 days from his receipt of the lists today to make his appointments.

Stats: 33 applicants applied, 8 females and 25 males

To be placed on the Judicial Selection Commission’s mailing list, send request to JudSelect.Comm@courts.state.hi.us and provide your name and business.