Fired Bankoh exec
leaves state panel

CLARIFICATION Friday, April 22, 2005 » Wes Imamura is a former vice president of Servco Insurance Services. A story on Page A4 in yesterday's paper implied that he is a current vice president. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Wes Imamura will step down as a member of the powerful state Judicial Selection Commission after he was dismissed this month as president of Bank of Hawaii's Insurance Services subsidiary.

Imamura and 10 others were dismissed by the bank after an internal inquiry found that they had claimed credit for a mandatory continuing-education course that actually had been canceled.

Imamura, vice president of Servco Insurance Services and former president of the Atlas Insurance Agency, was named to the Judicial Selection Commission by Senate President Robert Bunda on March 10.

Yesterday, Bunda said he did not know about the inquiry and action against Imamura.

"He (Imamura) informed me that after discussions with commission Chairman Mel Chiba, he has decided to submit his resignation in order to settle this matter quickly and in the best interest of the commission," Bunda said.

"It is obvious that he sincerely regrets what he calls a misjudgment," Bunda added.

Imamura has a law degree from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and is not a practicing attorney.

The nine-member Judicial Selection Commission is charged with creating lists the governor uses to select nominees for state judges above the district-court level.

According to state law, the governor picks two commission members, the Senate president and the speaker of the House both pick two members each, the bar association picks two members and the chief justice of the Supreme Court appoints one member. Commissioners are not subject to confirmation.

Imamura was not available for comment.

State Insurance Commissioner J.P. Schmidt said the Bank of Hawaii had reported the violation to him. Schmidt called the violation "a very serious lack of judgment on the part of the individuals."