Randal Lee nominated to appellate court

Oahu Circuit Judge Randal K.O. Lee has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Gov. Linda Lingle's office announced yesterday.

Lee, a former Honolulu deputy prosecutor, has served as judge of the 1st Circuit's 12th Division since March 2005.

He was among six potential nominees submitted to Lingle last month by the Judicial Selection Commission.

"Over the past two years, Judge Lee has served the people of Hawaii well, and I am proud to appoint him to the Intermediate Court of Appeals," Lingle said in a news release.

Lee's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation, which could come soon.

According to state law, interim appointments must be acted on at the earliest Senate session. If the Legislature goes into special session to handle issues related to the Hawaii Superferry, the Senate must act on the governor's nominations at that time.

Senators also would have to take up the nominations for three interim appointees to Lingle's Cabinet and about 60 nominees to various boards and commissions.

Lee did not return a telephone message seeking comment yesterday.

Lee is perhaps best known for taking the lead in the prosecution of illegal campaign contributions uncovered by the Campaign Spending Commission and former Executive Director Robert Watada.

He sailed through his confirmation hearing as circuit judge in March 2005, winning unanimous approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full chamber.

Before working in the Honolulu prosecutor's office, Lee was an attorney in the Appellate Branch and Family Court Trials Branch of the Office of the Public Defender. He also worked as a clerk for the U.S. District Court in California, the California Court of Appeals and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Lee would fill a vacancy on the appeals court that was left by Judge John S.W. Lim, who died in June.