Craig H. Nakamura, an associate judge on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals since 2004, is the court's new chief judge.<p>
The Senate, meeting in special session yesterday, confirmed his nomination for a 10-year term by unanimous vote, 25-0.<p>
Nakamura succeeds Mark Recktenwald, who was sworn in as a justice on the state Supreme Court in May.<p>
Gov. Linda Lingle now must appoint a replacement for Nakamura.<p>
Before serving on the intermediate court &mdash; the state's second-highest court &mdash; Nakamura was an assistant U.S. attorney from 1986 to 2004. He also is a former director of the Hawaii State Bar Association.<p>
Nakamura is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Hawaii.