Bush names Rohlfing federal judge
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
President Bush yesterday announced the nomination of local attorney Frederick "Fritz" Rohlfing, a longtime Republican, as a U.S. District Court judge in Hawai'i.
Born: July 21, 1956, in Honolulu Education: Punahou School graduate, 1974; Dartmouth College bachelor of arts in economics, 1978; University of Chicago Law School, 1983. Career: A partner in Rohlfing & Stone, Attorneys at Law; chief executive officer, Aloha Sports Inc. Family: Son of former state Sen. Fred and Joan Halford Rohlfing; wife, Deon; children, Renate, Frederick, Markus and Marissa.
Rohlfing, son of former Republican state legislator Fred Rohlfing, has been a lawyer in private practice for 19 years. He also is chief executive officer of Aloha Sports Inc., which operated the former Aloha Bowl and O'ahu Bowl football games.
Frederick "Fritz" Rohlfing III
His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Democrat-led U.S. Senate. Hawai'i's two senators, Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Rohlfing, 45, said he sent in nomination papers last May and went to Washington in October for an interview with the White House counsel. He was told last week that he would be nominated.
If confirmed, he would fill the vacancy created in January 2000 when U.S. District Judge Alan Kay took semi-retired senior status.
"The position of federal judge is something that I held in the highest regard for most of my adult life," Rohlfing said. "When you're growing up, you're reading American history and obviously the focus is on the country as a whole and federal judges played an important role historically in the advancement of civil rights and other things."
State Rep. Barbara Marumoto yesterday praised the selection of Rohlfing. Marumoto, R-17th (Kahala, Wai'alae), served as Hawai'i chairwoman of Bush's 2000 campaign.
"Fritz is young and bright and a staunch Republican," Marumoto said. "I think he's got enough life experience under his belt to be a very excellent judge."
She said she hopes Rohlfing will get a fair review in the Senate, where confirmation hearings have yet to be scheduled.
"The senators will look at the FBI report (on Rohlfing) and I think Fritz will come through it with flying colors, so I'm sure there won't be any problem," Marumoto said. "They'll be fair in their assessment."
Rohlfing served as chief minority attorney in the state House in 1985 and in the Senate 10 years later.
Former Democratic state senator and District Judge Russell Blair also applauded the nomination. Blair said he served with Rohlfing's father in the Senate.
"I can't say my dealings with (Rohlfing) have been particularly extensive," Blair said, "but we've had discussions over the years about matters political and legal and he's always struck me as being intelligent and forthright. He's coming from the right place: good heart and good head."
Rohlfing was born in Honolulu and graduated from Punahou School in 1974. He received his law degree in 1983 from the University of Chicago Law School.
A partner in the law firm Rohlfing and Stone, he has specialized in commercial and personal injury litigation.
Rohlfing also heads the company that owns Hawai'i's two former collegiate football bowl games.
Dwindling fan support for the two games led Rohlfing to move the two games last year.
The O'ahu Bowl is now in Seattle, while the Aloha Bowl, after not finding a home on the Mainland, was not played this year. It has received NCAA certification to resume in San Francisco next year.
In addition to his law work, Rohlfing is active in the community. He was president of Manoa Paniolo Pop Warner Football in 1999-2001, serves as a Boy Scout troop leader, and is a member of the Mission Houses Museum board.
Rohlfing and his wife, Deon, have four children.
