Public Comments on Judicial Nominees Sought

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced on Friday, May 18, 2018, that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for four vacancies, two in the First Circuit (Island of O‘ahu) and two in the Third Circuit (Island of Hawai‘i). The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

FIRST CIRCUIT (O‘AHU)
District Court of the First Circuit

For a vacancy in the District Court of the First Circuit as a result of the appointment of the Honorable Paul B. K. Wong to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit:

Michelle N. Comeau
Ms. Comeau currently serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the First Circuit. Comeau is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2011.

Timothy E. Ho
Mr. Ho is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. Ho is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1987.

Ronald G. Johnson
Mr. Johnson is currently employed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawai‘i. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1987.

Summer M.M. Kupau-Odo
Ms. Kupau-Odo is currently employed at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Kupau-Odo is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2004.

Kristine Y. Yoo
Ms. Yoo is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Yoo is a graduate of the Hastings College of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2003.

Bryant G.F.Y. Zane
Mr. Zane is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. Zane is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1996.

District Family Court of the First Circuit

For a vacancy in the District Family Court of the First Circuit as a result of the appointment of the Honorable Matthew Viola to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit:

Thomas A.K. Haia
Mr. Haia is currently employed at Thomas A.K. Haia, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the First Circuit. Haia is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1995.

Chastity T. Imamura
Ms. Imamura is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Imamura is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2002.

Courtney N. Naso
Ms. Naso is currently employed at the Law Office of Steven J. Kim. Naso is a graduate of Regent University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2006.

Alvin K. Nishimura
Mr. Nishimura is currently employed at Alvin K. Nishimura, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. Nishimura is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1985.

Andrew T. Park
Mr. Park is currently employed at Park & Kim, L.L.L.C, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit. Park is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2008.

Kenneth J. Shimozono
Mr. Shimozono is currently employed with Takemoto & Shimozono, L.L.C., and serves as Per Diem Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit. Shimozono is a graduate of Willamette University College of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1994.

THIRD CIRCUIT (HAWAI‘I ISLAND)
District Family Court of the Third Circuit

For a vacancy in the District Family Court of the Third Circuit as a result of the retirement of the Honorable Aley K. Auna, Jr.:

Wendy M. DeWeese
Ms. DeWeese is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. DeWeese is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2006.

Mark D. Disher
Mr. Disher is currently employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the County of Hawai‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Disher is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2008.

Terri L. Fujioka-Lilley
Ms. Fujioka-Lilley is currently employed at Fujioka-Lilley Law Corporation. Fujioka-Lilley is a graduate of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2011.

Jason R. Kwiat
Mr. Kwiat is currently employed at Schlueter, Kwiat & Kennedy L.L.L.P. Kwiat is a graduate of Charlotte School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2009.

Joanna E. Sokolow
Ms. Sokolow is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. Sokolow is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2006.

Kimberly B.M. Taniyama
Ms. Taniyama is currently employed at the Law Office of Kimberly B. Taniyama, L.L.C. Taniyama is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1997.

District Family Court, Third Circuit

For a vacancy in the District Family Court of the Third Circuit as a result of the appointment of the Honorable Henry Nakamoto to the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit:

Wendy M. DeWeese
Ms. DeWeese is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. DeWeese is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2006.

Jeffrey A. Hawk
Mr. Hawk is currently employed at the Law Office of Jeffrey A. Hawk.  Hawk is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1997.

William B. Heflin
Mr. Heflin is currently employed at the Law Office of Ian L. Mattoch. Heflin is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2001.

Mahilani E.K. Hiatt
Ms. Hiatt is currently employed at Hiatt & Hiatt, and serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court and District Family Court of the Third Circuit. Hiatt is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1993.

Peter K. Kubota
Mr. Kubota is currently employed at Peter K. Kubota, Attorney at Law, A Law Corporation. Kubota is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1989.

Jeffrey W.S. Ng
Mr. Ng is currently employed as a deputy public defender with the State of Hawai‘i Office of the Public Defender. Ng is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2002.

Because the Chief Justice has the discretion to assign judges to the district or district family court calendar, comments about the qualifications and character of any of the nominees with regard to either calendar assignment may be sent, in writing, to:

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald
Supreme Court of Hawai‘i
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI  96813

Fax: (808) 539-4703
Email: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Friday, May 25, 2018. All comments will be kept confidential.

The individuals selected by the Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.