Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking written comment on judicial nominees for three vacancies at the District Court of the First Circuit and one vacancy at the District Family Court of the First Circuit (Oahu). The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission are, in alphabetical order:

Paula Devens
Shirley M. Kawamura
Lanson K. Kupau
Linda S. Martell
Melanie Mito May
Trish K. Morikawa
Karen T. Nakasone
Dean E. Ochiai
Maura M. Okamoto
David A. Pendleton
Catherine H. Remigio
G. Gary Singh
Renee Sonobe Hong
Kevin A. Souza
Paul B.K. Wong
Wayson W.S. Wong

Three of the vacancies occurred when former District Court judges Colette Y. Garibaldi and Faʻauuga L. To`oto`o became Circuit Court judges on September 30, 2010 and October 7, 2010, respectively, and when Michael F. Broderick left the Family Court bench on October 31, 2010 to become President of the YMCA of Honolulu. A fourth vacancy will occur when District Court Judge Christopher P. McKenzie retires on May 1, 2011.

The Chief Justice is also seeking public comment on judicial nominees for one vacancy at the District Family Court of the Fifth Circuit (Kauai). The vacancy occurred when Calvin K. Murashige retired on December 31, 2010. The names submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission are, in alphabetical order:

Edmund D. Acoba
Russell K.M.K. Goo
Daniel G. Hempey
Joseph N. Kobayashi
Alvin K. Nishimura
Sara L. Silverman

Since 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 both calendar assignments may be sent, in writing, to:

Mark E. Recktenwald
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Hawaii
417 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Fax: 539-4703
Email: chiefjustice@courts.state.hi.us

WRITTEN comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011.

ALL COMMENTS WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL.

The individuals selected by the Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.