HONOLULU – 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 First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), as a result of the retirement of Judge William Domingo.

The names submitted for this vacancy by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

Russ S. Awakuni
Mr. Awakuni is currently employed with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi. He 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 and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1987.

Michelle N. Comeau
Ms. Comeau is currently employed Of Counsel with Nakashima Ching LLC and serves as a  a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2011.

Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Mr. Demetrakopoulos is currently employed with Shim & Chang, AAL, ALC. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 1989.

Chad M. Kumagai
Mr. Kumagai is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the Department of Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2011.

Steven R. Nichols
Mr. Nichols is currently employed with the Law Office of Steven R. Nichols, Nichols Law Group LLLC. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2002.

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 Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

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

Comments should be postmarked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Tuesday, March 12, 2024.  All comments will be kept confidential.