Hawai‘i chief justice, governor seek public comment on judicial nominees

Governor Josh Green will nominate a successor to Circuit Judge Christine E. Kuriyama, who recently retired in June 2023.

Six nominees for Circuit Judge for the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Island of O‘ahu) have been announced for consideration.

The State Judicial Selection Commission transmitted the list of nominees to Gov. Green following a thorough review of the qualifications and backgrounds of all applicants.

The nominees are as follows:

• Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos is currently an attorney at law in private practice. He is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.
  
• David M. Hayakawa is currently a Criminal Defense Attorney and a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.
  
• Chastity T. Imamura is currently a Hearings Officer at the Office of Dispute Resolution. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.
  
• Jordon J. Kimura is currently an Attorney and Co-Managing Partner at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon. He is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.
  
• Steven R. Nichols is currently a Deputy Public Defender for the Office of the Public Defender. He is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.
  
• Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano) is currently a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney at the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.

Gov. Green must make his appointment within 30 days, or by August 4. The public is invited to provide comments on the nominees via the Governor’s website.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for an additional three vacancies in the District Court of the First Circuit.

The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are:

• Robert J. Brown
  • Brown is currently employed with Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 2014.
• Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
• David M. Hayakawa
• Chastity T. Imamura
• Erika E. Ireland
  • Ireland is currently employed with Erika E. Ireland, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law, and was admitted to the Hawai‘i State Bar in 1997.
• Jordon J. Kimura
• Steven R. Nichols
• Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano)

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 Hawai‘i
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Fax: (808) 539-4703
Email: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov

Comments should be postmarked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than July 14. All comments will be kept confidential.