Per diem judge applicants sought for Hawai‘i Island district courts

The 3rd Circuit District Family and District Court in Hilo are accepting applications from attorneys interested in serving as per diem judges.

Applications for consideration should be submitted by April 1. An original and three copies of completed applications may be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges
ATTN: Chief Judge Wendy M. DeWeese
Keahuolū Courthouse
74-5451 Kamakaʻeha Avenue
Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740

An additional copy must be mailed or hand-delivered directly to the Chief Justice:

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald
Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813

Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, applicants must be residents and citizens of the state and of the United States, and must have been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi for a period of not less than five years preceding nomination.

Be advised that the Commission on Judicial Conduct has indicated in a formal opinion that any per diem judge and his or her partners and associates may not practice in the court to which the per diem judge is assigned. Furthermore, pursuant to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, government employees (federal, state, or county) are disqualified from serving as per diem judges.

Additionally, once appointed, per diem judges are prohibited from holding other public positions for profit (for example, teaching at the William S. Richardson School of Law).

Per diem judges are part-time judges appointed by the Chief Justice on an “as-needed basis” to preside in the District Court.

After receiving instructions and filling out the application form, nominees are interviewed by the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges and upon selection, an order of appointment must be filed. After taking the oath of office, per diem judges are ready for assignments.

During their term of service, per diem judges can still engage in the private practice of law subject to the limitations set forth above. Compensation is received only for the days which actual service is rendered based on the monthly rate of compensation paid to a District Court judge. See HRS section 604-2(b).