Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald has appointed James H. Ashford as District Judge of the First Circuit (Oahu). He will fill the vacancy created when Dean Ochiai was selected as a First Circuit Court judge.

Ashford, who graduated from Loyola Law School in 1988, is a partner at the law firm of Cades Schutte where his practice focuses on commercial litigation, employment law, construction and condominium disputes, trust and real estate litigation, and education law. He is a regular speaker at litigation and employment law seminars locally and across the U.S.

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.

If confirmed by the State Senate, Ashford will serve a term of six years.