Four Circuit Court judges up for court vacancy
Advertiser Staff
Four state Circuit Court judges are among six candidates nominated to fill a vacancy on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals.
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The list of six nominees was submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission to Gov. Linda Lingle, who made it public yesterday.
Gov. Linda Lingle has a month to make her decisions.
The four Circuit Court judges nominated are Victoria Marks, Sabrina McKenna, Richard Perkins and Michael Town. The other two candidates are Craig Nakamura, an assistant U.S. attorney, and private attorney Susan Ichinose. The vacancy was created as a result of the Legislature's decision to establish a fifth seat on the intermediate court, the state's second highest court.
Lingle also made public the list of six candidates up for a vacancy on the Honolulu Circuit Court bench that will exist when Judge Marie Milks retires on March 15. Two of the nominees to that opening are District Court judges — Leslie Hayashi and Gerald Kibe. Peter Stone, a third candidate, is a part-time district judge. The other candidates are private attorneys Patrick Border, Dale Lee and Leta Price.
The commission provides no ranking of candidates. Lingle has 30 days from the date she received the lists, which was Dec. 29, to make her decisions. Her selections would be subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
Associate judges on the intermediate court make $110,618 a year. Circuit Court judges make $106,922. Salaries for judges last went up in 2000. They are expected to get raises in 2004.
Lingle's decision to release the names of nominees presented to her prior to her decision is unusual among governors who, in the past, have generally not made the names of candidates public or waited until after making a selection.
Lingle said she is seeking to promote openness in her administration. Earlier this year, she also publicly announced the nominees for a spot on the Hawai'i Supreme Court, an opening that was ultimately filled by James E. Duffy Jr.
