HONOLULU, HI – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for two vacancies – one in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit (island of Kauai) upon the retirement of Judge Trudy K.T. Senda in December, and one in the District Family Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawaii) as a result of the retirement of Judge Lloyd X. Van De Car.

The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

District Court of the Fifth Circuit (island of Kauai)

Jonathan J.H.L Chun
Mr. Chun currently serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the Fifth Circuit and is a Managing Partner of Belles Graham Proudfoot Wilson & Chun, LLP. Chun is a graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1981.

Christopher M. Donahoe
Mr. Donahoe is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawaii Office of the Public Defender. Donahoe is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2009.

Russell K.M.K. Goo
Mr. Goo is currently employed as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General.  Goo is a graduate of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1998.

Sara L. Silverman
Ms. Silverman serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the Fifth Circuit and is also currently employed as Sara L. Silverman, Attorney at Law.  Silverman is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1992.

Michael K. Soong
Mr. Soong is currently employed at the Law Office of Michael K. Soong.  Soong is a graduate of the Southwestern University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1986.

Jennifer S. Winn
Ms. Winn is currently employed as First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.  Winn is a graduate of the University of California Hastings College of the Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1999.

District Family Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawaii)

Dakota K.M. Frenz
Ms. Frenz is currently employed at the Law Office of Dakota K. Frenz, LLLC.  Frenz is a graduate of Whittier Law School and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2006.

Paul K. Hamano
Mr. Hamano is currently employed as Paul K. Hamano, Attorney at Law.  Hamano is a graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall) and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1985.

Kevin S. Hashizaki
Mr. Hashizaki is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the County of Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.  Hashizaki is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1995.

Peter K. Kubota
Mr. Kubota is currently employed as Peter K. Kubota, Attorney At Law, A Law Corporation.  Kubota is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1989.

Jeffrey W.S. Ng
Mr. Ng is currently employed as a Senior Trial Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawaii Office of the Public Defender. Ng is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002.

J Stanley Yoshimoto
Mr. Yoshimoto is currently employed as a Deputy Corporation Counsel with the County of Hawaii.  Yoshimoto is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1992.

Because 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 Hawaii 417 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813
Fax: 808-539-4703 Email: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Wednesday, August 17, 2016. All comments will be kept confidential.

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