Gov. Linda Lingle today nominated Lawrence Reifurth, the director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, as a judge on the state's Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Reifurth, the former state insurance commissioner, has led the department since March 2007.

Lingle's nomination requires Senate confirmation.

“Larry has been an outstanding and dedicated public servant who has worked to support the interests of Hawaii businesses, while fighting to protect consumers from fraud and unfair business practices,” Lingle said in a statement. “He has been a valuable member of my administration for the past seven years and I have great confidence that he will serve on the bench with integrity and fairness.”

Reifurth also served as a deputy attorney general, a lawyer in private practice, and an attorney for the cities of Fairfax, Mill Valley and Sausalito in California.

Reifurth graduated from Northwestern University School of Law, the J.D. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and Marquette University.

Lingle, since taking office, has appointed five judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, 13 judges to the Circuit Court and two justices to the Hawaii Supreme Court.