Courts of Appeal and Circuit Court judges are appointed by the Governor to a 10-year term from a list of not less than four and not more than six nominees provided by the Judicial Selection Commission. District Court judges are appointed by the Chief Justice to a 6-year term from a list of not less than four and not more than six nominees provided by the Judicial Selection Commission.

All appointees are subject to the consent of the state Senate. After initial appointment, the Judicial Selection Commission determines whether a judge will be retained in office. A judge may not serve past age 70. See Article VI § 3 & 4 of the Hawai`i Constitution. Below are lists of judges serving in courts statewide:

• Supreme Court Justices
• Intermediate Court of Appeals Judges
• First Circuit (O`ahu) Judges
  • per diem Judges
• Second Circuit (Maui) Judges
  • per diem Judges
• Third Circuit (Hawai`i) Judges
  • per diem Judges
• Fifth Circuit (Kaua`i) Judges
  • per diem Judges

Note: Please do not contact a judge about a pending case. In most circumstances a judge is prohibited from discussing a pending case unless all parties are given notice and an opportunity to be present. Judges are also prohibited from publicly discussing a pending or impending case. See Rules 2.9 and 2.10 of the Hawaii Revised Code of Judicial Conduct (PDF).

Filter by year Select year 2021

Notice of Judicial Vacancy

• Notice of Anticipated Judicial Vacancy – District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (Release Date: 05/07/2021) (Release Date 05/07/2021)

Notice of Petition for Retention

• Notice of Petition for Retention – The Honorable James C. McWhinnie (Release Date: 06/10/2021) (Release Date 06/10/2021)

Nominees/Appointments

• Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals Nominees (Release Date: 06/09/2021) (Release Date 06/09/2021)
• Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, First Circuit Nominees (Release Date: 06/09/2021) (Release Date )