GOVERNOR SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEES

Governor Linda Lingle today released a list of judicial nominees that was provided to her by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill a vacancy on the Hawai`i State Supreme Court created by the retirement of Associate Justice Steven Levinson.

The Governor is making the list available to the public to encourage public comment on the nominees.

Nominees to fill the vacancy in the Hawai`i Supreme Court:

Daniel R. Foley – Current position:  associate judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals.  Prior experience:  adjunct professor of civil rights, University of Hawai`i; partner, Partington & Foley; legal director, ACLU Hawai`i; legal counsel to various Micronesia government bodies.

Sabrina S. McKenna – Current position: judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit.  Prior experience: judge, District Court of the First Circuit; assistant professor, University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law; instructor in business law, University of Hawai`i College of Business; corporate secretary and general counsel, Otaka, Inc.; associate, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel.

Craig H. Nakamura – Current position:  associate judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals.  Prior experience: assistant United States attorney; adjunct professor, University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law; law clerk, Judge Herbert Choy, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Steven M. Nakashima – Current position: Marr, Hipp, Jones & Pepper.  Prior experience: district judge, District Court of the First Circuit; Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel; law clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; law clerk, attorney general, State of Hawai`i; law clerk, attorney general, State of Oregon.

Mark E. Recktenwald – Current position: chief judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals.  Prior experience:  director, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; assistant United States attorney; partner, Marr Hipp Jones & Wang; associate, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel; law clerk, Chief Judge Harold Fong, U.S. District Court.

Frances Q. F. Wong – Current position: judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit.  Prior experience: judge, District Family Court; partner, Hall & Wong; associate, Edmunds Hall & Weinberg; associate, Hart Leavitt Hall & Hunt.

The Governor has 30 days from receipt of the list (January 20, 2009) to make her selection.

Public comments on the nominees may be sent via e-mail to Governor.Lingle@hawaii.gov or by fax at 808-586-0006.  All comments should be submitted by the close of business on Friday, January 30, 2009.

(Posted:  Thursday, January 22, 2009)