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).

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Notice of Judicial Vacancy

• Notice of Extended Deadline for Applications for Judicial Vacancy – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the Second Circuit (island of Maui) (Release Date: 4/9/21) (Release Date 04/09/2021)
• Notice of Extended Deadline for Applications for Judicial Vacancy – Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals, State of Hawaii (Release Date: 01/08/2021) (Release Date 01/08/2021)
• Notice of Extended Deadline for Applications for Judicial Vacancy – District Judge, District Court of the Third Circuit (island of Hawaii) (Release Date: 01/08/2021) (Release Date )
• Notice of Anticipated Judicial Vacancy – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the Second Circuit (Release Date 12/18/2020)
• Notice of Anticipated Judicial Vacancies – Two (2) Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Release Date 11/27/2020)
• Notice of Anticipated Judicial Vacancy – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Release Date: 10/16/2020) (Release Date 10/16/2020)

Notice of Petition for Retention

Nominees/Appointments

• Dunn and Rouse Sworn-in (Release Date 03/29/2021)
• Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – District Family Judge, Third Circuit Nominees (Release Date: 02/11/2021) (Release Date 02/11/2021)