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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First (Release Date: 10/02/2017)

Posted on Oct 2, 2017 in JSC Press Releases, Judicial Selection Commission

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 vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Karl K. Sakamoto in December 2016.

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

  • James H. Ashford
  • Timothy E. Ho
  • Ronald G. Johnson
  • James S. Kawashima
  • Matthew J. Viola
  • Paul B. K. Wong

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

  • Total Applicants: 22; 4 Females; 18 Males
  • Government Attorneys: 11
  • Private Attorneys: 7
  • Per Diem Judges: 1
  • Judges: 4
  • Age Range: 1 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 14 (51-60); 3 (61-70)
  • Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 37 years

For more information, visit the Judicial Selection Commission webpage or contact the Commission via email at judselect.comm@courts.hawaii.gov.

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