By making public the names of the six candidates for a vacant state Supreme Court seat, Gov. Linda Lingle hopes she will learn more about the candidates. Lingle announces
judicial candidatesLegislators praise the choices,
one of whom will fill a seat
on the state Supreme CourtBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.comLingle also said making the nomination list public gives the public a chance to measure each of the candidates against the others.
Lingle is the first governor to make public the list of judicial candidates before selecting a nominee.
Lingle said she has never met any of the six and does not have a preference.
She said she and her senior adviser, Randy Roth, a University of Hawaii law school faculty member and a former Hawaii Bar Association president, and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who is a former Family Court judge, will interview the six candidates.
They have already been screened and recommended to Lingle by the state Judicial Selection Commission.
The appointment is Lingle's first major court appointment.
The vacancy in the five-member court occurred when Mario Ramil retired.
The nominees include two private attorneys: Lowell Chun-Hoon, a labor attorney, and James Duffy, a former federal court nominee.
The other four -- Eden Hifo, Sabrina McKenna, Richard Perkins and Richard Pollack -- are all Circuit Court judges.
Lingle said she is looking for a judge who will interpret the law fairly and does not attempt to write new law with judicial decisions.
"I want someone who offers an opinion based on what the existing law says, and I will want to know in general areas how they feel about victims' rights and criminal rights," Lingle said.
The six candidates drew praise from senators who will have to confirm whomever Lingle selects.
Robert Bunda, Senate president, called the six "good candidates."
"They are all experienced in the judicial system. To me, any one of the six would be a great candidate," Bunda said.
Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, echoed Bunda's praise, saying, "Any selection she makes will be a good addition."
Hanabusa, who will hold hearings on the nomination, said she will be looking at the nominees' experience, how varied a legal practice they have and for the four judges' "feedback on their judicial temperament."
"When you look at the appellate court, I think we would look for someone who has demonstrated great legal analytical ability," Hanabusa said.
Republican Sen. Sam Slom also called the six "good choices" and came out with his own favorite.
"If I had to select someone based on hard work and service, the decision would be Sabrina McKenna," Slom said.
Office of the Governor
Hawaii State Judiciary
