Inouye, Akaka make recommendations for impending judicial vacancy
Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka last week stood up to the nine-member Hawaii Federal Judicial Selection Commission to make recommendations of qualified applicants for the U.S. District Court seat being vacated by Judge Helen Gillmor at the end of the month.
Following Gillmor’s retirement announcement, the senators have made their appointments to the commission, beginning with attorney Larry Okinaga as chair. The other eight members are as follows:
Four members were selected by Inouye, three by Akaka and two by the Hawaii State Bar Association.
“The purpose of the commission is to help ensure a strong, independent and qualified federal judiciary and to provide a fair process for selecting nominees with the highest professional qualifications and attributes,” Inouye said.
The commission will organize itself, put its administrative processes into place and will at that time, issue a call for applicants. The list of candidates will be forwarded to the White House for consideration.
