Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon appointed Anthony K. Bartholomew and Harry P. Freitas as judges of the District Family Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawai`i). Bartholomew fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Family Court Judge Ben Gaddis. Freitas is filling the position formerly held by retired District Court Judge Matthew Pyun.

Bartholomew currently is a deputy public defender with the Office of the Public Defender in Hilo. He was an associate with the Honolulu law firm of Hart and Wolf from 1994 to 1995, and had been a sole practitioner for five years from 1989 to 1994. While in private practice, Bartholomew appeared in the State Circuit and District Courts, U.S. District Court, and the Military Courts Martial at Pearl Harbor. He received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1983.

Freitas has been with the Deputy Corporation Counsel, County of Hawai`i, specializing in civil litigation, since 2002 to the present. Previously, Freitas was a solo practitioner from 2001 to 2002, a deputy prosecuting attorney with the County of Hawai`i from 1999 to 2001, and a deputy public defender, State of Hawai`i, Hilo Office, from 1994 to 1999. He graduated from Hastings College of Law, University of California, in 1990.

The chief justice appoints District Court and District Family Court judges from a list of not less than six nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission.

Bartholomew’s and Freitas’ appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

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Contact: Marsha Kitagawa, 539-4909