LATE STORY
Lingle releases list of judgeship nominees
Burns must step down this year as he nears retirement age of 70
Gov. Linda Lingle today released the lists of nominees for two judgeships being vacated this year due to retirements.
Judges retiring this year are Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge James Burns and Judge Marcia Waldorf of the First Circuit Court on Oahu. Burns is approaching 70, the mandatory retirement age for judges in Hawaii. Waldorf is retiring of her own accord.
Nominees to replace Burns are:
» Daniel R. Foley, associate judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals. He was formerly a partner with Partington & Foley, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, Hawaii and an adjunct professor of civil rights at the University of Hawaii.
» Katherine G. Leonard, attorney, Carlsmith Ball LLP; American Judicature Society. She was formerly a law clerk with the state Supreme Court and First Circuit Court.
» Sabrina S. McKenna, judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit. She was formerly an assistant professor of law at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.
» Mark E. Recktenwald, director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. He was formerly an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
» Michael K. Tanigawa, director, Char Sakamoto Ishii Lum and Ching. He was formerly an adjunct professor with the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and also worked with the Office of the Public Defender.
» Frances Q. F. Wong, judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit. She was formerly a Family Court Judge.
Nominees to replace Waldorf are:
» Cecelia C. Y. Chang, special assistant United States attorney; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.
» Sherri-Ann L. Iha, deputy prosecuting attorney.
» Glenn J. Kim, deputy prosecuting attorney.
» Peter T. Stone, solo practice; per diem judge, District Court.
» Lori H. Wada, deputy prosecuting attorney.
» Allen R. Wolff, partner, Carlsmith Ball.
The nominees were made by the Judicial Selection Commission and sent to Lingle on Wednesday. Lingle has 30 days from then to make a selection.
Public comments on the nominees can be sent via e-mail to Governor.Lingle@hawaii.gov or by fax at 586-0006. All comments should be submitted by the close of business on Feb. 2.