The Judicial Selection Commission has announced nominees for the position of District Family Judge in the Second Circuit, covering the island of Maui, Hawaii. This vacancy arose following the retirement of Judge Adrianne N. M. L. Heely Caires in May 2024.
In accordance with Article VI, Section 3 of the State Constitution, as amended by SB 2927 (2024), the Chief Justice is required to fill this vacancy from a list provided by the commission. The nominees are Bevanne J. Bowers, Lance D. Collins, Zachary P. Raidmae, and Sonya H. Toma.
The Chief Justice now has 30 days to appoint one of these candidates to the judicial office.
Statistics from the selection process reveal that there were six applicants in total: two females and four males. Among them, four were first-time applicants. The professional backgrounds included three government attorneys, two private attorneys, two per diem judges, and one from another occupation. The age range of applicants was predominantly between 41-50 years old, with experience ranging from 11 to 29 years licensed.