Legislative Hearings Set for Judicial Nominees

Judicial vacancies on Hawaii's trial and appellate courts are being filled. Most notably is the nomination of Judge Katherine Leonard as Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. Here is a short description of the process and the list of nominees.

Pursuant to article VI, section 3 of Hawaii's Constitution,

[t]he governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.

Governor Lingle's appointees are the following people:

• Judge Katherine Leonard to the Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court
• Jeannette H. Castagnetti to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit
• Fa‘auuga L. To‘oto‘o to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit
• Colette Y. Garibaldi to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit

For District Court appointments, article VI, section 3 of Hawaii's Constitution provides as follows:

The chief justice, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the district courts by appointing a person from a list of not less than six nominees for the vacancy presented by the judicial selection commission. . . . The senate shall hold a public hearing and vote on each appointment within thirty days of any appointment.

Chief Justice Moon's appointees are the following people:

• Sherri-Ann L. Iha to the District Court of the First Circuit
• Steven M. Nakashima to the District Court of the First Circuit
• Matthew J. Viola to the District Court of the First Circuit
• Michael K. Tanigawa to the District Court of the First Circuit

The legislature will consider these nominees in the 2010 First Special Session. Hearings are scheduled for August 2 and 3, before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.