HONOLULU — Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald announced Wednesday that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for a vacancy in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit upon the retirement of Judge Trudy K.T. Senda in December. The names
HONOLULU — Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald announced Wednesday that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for a vacancy in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit upon the retirement of Judge Trudy K.T. Senda in December.
The names of the nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission are Jonathan Chun, Christopher Donahoe, Russell Goo, Sara Silverman, Michael Soong and Jennifer Winn.
w Chun serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the Fifth Circuit and is a Managing Partner of Belles Graham Proudfoot Wilson & Chun, LLP. Chun is a graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1981.
w Donahoe is employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the State of Hawaii Office of the Public Defender. Donahoe is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2009.
w Goo is employed as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General. Goo is a graduate of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1998.
w Soong is employed at the Law Office of Michael K. Soong. Soong is a graduate of the Southwestern University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1986.
w Silverman serves as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the Fifth Circuit and is also currently employed as Sara L. Silverman, Attorney at Law. Silverman is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1992.
w Winn is currently employed as First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Winn is a graduate of the University of California Hastings College of the Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1999.
There were 10 applicants who applied for the District Court of the Fifth Circuit upcoming vacancy, three females and seven males. Five were government attorneys, four were private attorneys and two were per diem judges. Their age ranges were between 41 and 60, and their years licensed range between seven years and 35 years.
Because the Chief Justice has the discretion to assign judges to the district or district family court calendar, comments about the qualifications and character of any of the nominees with regard to either calendar assignment may be sent, in writing, to: Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, Fax: (808) 539-4703 or chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov
Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Aug. 17. All comments will be kept confidential.
The Chief Justice has 30 days from his receipt of the list Wednesday to make his appointment. The individuals selected by the Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.
