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Cayetano appoints two
to judgeships on Kauai;

Justice Moon chooses one for Honolulu

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

Three Hawaii men have recently been appointed to judgeships on Oahu and Kauai.

Gov. Ben Cayetano made two judge appointments on Kauai. He appointed Deputy Prosecutor Derrick H.M. Chan to an Oahu Circuit Court judgeship and Kauai District Judge Clifford L. Nakea to the Kauai Circuit Court.

"Derrick Chan has vast experience in criminal law as a defense attorney and a prosecutor," Cayetano said. "He is a hard worker with the personal character and integrity to make tough decisions."

Chan worked for the state attorney general's office, spent 10 years as a deputy public defender, and oversaw the appellate division of the Kauai prosecutor's office during the past several years.

"After 20 years on the District Court bench, Clifford Nakea has an outstanding reputation in the Kauai community for being a fair-minded judge," Cayetano said.

Nakea also has served as a trustee of the Kauai Museum and helped with the Department of Education's student mock trial program.

David W. Lo was appointed a Honolulu District Court by Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon.

Lo, presently in private practice, has sat as a per diem District Court judge since May 1997.

He previously was a managing partner in the law firm Doo and Lo; staff attorney for Pacific Insurance Co.; business instructor at Hawaii Pacific College; deputy attorney general for the state; and deputy prosecuting attorney for Honolulu.

Lo will fill the position left vacant by Judge Karen S.S. Ahn, who became an Oahu Circuit Court judge in May.

The state Senate must confirm the three appointments.