The District Family and District Court of the Third Circuit on Hawaiʻi Island is seeking applications from attorneys interested in serving as per diem judges. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1, 2025.
Applicants are required to submit an original and three copies of their completed applications either by mail or hand delivery to the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges at the Keahuolū Courthouse in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. An additional copy must be sent directly to Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald at the Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu.
According to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, applicants must be residents and citizens of both the state and the United States. They must also have been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi for at least five years before nomination. It should be noted that per diem judges and their partners or associates are prohibited from practicing in the court where they serve.
Additionally, government employees are not eligible for these positions due to constitutional restrictions. Once appointed, per diem judges cannot hold other public positions for profit, such as teaching at certain institutions.
Per diem judges work part-time and are appointed by the Chief Justice on an "as-needed basis" to preside over cases in District Court. After completing application procedures and interviews with the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges, selected nominees will receive an order of appointment. Upon taking their oath of office, they can begin assignments.
While serving as per diem judges, individuals may continue private legal practice within specified limitations. Compensation is provided only for days when actual service is rendered, based on a monthly rate equivalent to that paid to a District Court judge.