Cahill Selected Again, This Time by Commission

Cahill. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

The Judicial Selection Commission today announced the appointment of Peter Timothy Cahill to fill the vacancy at Maui’s Second Circuit Court.

The selection process was turned over to the commission after the governor mistakenly made his selection two days late, missing the 30-day deadline outlined in the state constitution.

The governor also named Cahill to the post on June 12, but had to turn the process back over to the commission when he was informed of the error.

The commission had submitted a list of five nominees to the governor on May 11, 2012 that included: Peter Cahill; Maui District Court judge Kelsey Kawano; and Maui attorneys and per diem judges Michelle Drewyer, Lloyd Poelman, and Douglas Sameshima.

Cahill was selected to fill the judicial vacancy on Maui’s Second Circuit Court bench created by the recent retirement of Judge Shackley Raffetto.

Members issued a statement today saying that the commission “holds all of the nominees in high regard,” but decided on Cahill based on a number of different factors.

The commission released the following statement:

“Mr. Cahill has a wide range of experience in over 30 years in private practice as a litigator, mediator, and arbitrator of personal injury and commercial disputes. He received stellar references from judges as well as attorneys. He also has devoted a considerable amount of time to pro bono representation of clients unable to pay for legal services, and has established a reputation for fairness among his peers on Maui,”

The commission presented its letter of appointment of Cahill today to Senate President Shan Tsutsui.  The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.