The Judicial Selection Commission has released a list of nominees for the position of Circuit Judge at the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, located on the island of Hawaiʻi. This vacancy arose following the retirement of Circuit Judge Robert D. S. Kim in July 2024.
Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Section 3, it is stated: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”
The nominees selected to potentially fill this judicial role are Mark D. Disher, Brandon K. Flores, Kauanoe A. D. Jackson, and Scott K. D. Shishido.
Governor's decision is due within 30 days from receipt of this nominee list.
In terms of statistics related to this nomination process:
- There were seven applicants in total: three females and four males.
- Four individuals applied for such a position for their first time.
- The professional backgrounds included four government attorneys, one private attorney, one judge (not per diem), and one categorized as other.
- Applicants' ages ranged predominantly between 41-50 years old.
- The experience levels varied from being licensed for 11 years to up to 29 years.