Maui’s Cardoza Named Chief Judge of Second Circuit

2nd Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui Judge Joseph E. Cardoza today was named Chief Judge and Administrative Judge for the Second Circuit Court.

“Judge Cardoza is a proven leader who has demonstrated his commitment to justice and to serving the community,” said Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, who made the selection.

Judge Cardoza succeeds Judge Shackley Raffetto, the Judiciary’s 2011 Jurist of the Year, who will be retiring at the end of this month after 25 years on the bench.

Judge Cardoza served as a circuit court judge on Maui since 1999. He was previously Maui County’s prosecuting attorney and later founded the law firm of Cardoza and Fukuoka.

He is also a past president of the Maui County Bar Association and Hawaii Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Judge Cardoza’s assignment is effective May 1, 2012.