HONOLULU (AP) — Names of three Hawaii residents were announced Tuesday as recommended nominees to fill a federal judgeship in Honolulu.
HONOLULU (AP) — Names of three Hawaii residents were announced Tuesday as recommended nominees to fill a federal judgeship in Honolulu.
U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz recommended the names to President Barack Obama, who will select the person to replace Hawaii U.S. District Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway. She’s taking on senior status, which is a form of semiretirement for federal judges.
The recommended nominees are former state Attorney General David Louie, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Otake and private practice trial attorney Clare Connors.
Connors previously served as a clerk for U.S. District Judge David Ezra in Honolulu and worked with the tax division of the Justice Department. She has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Hawaii.
Louie was appointed as state attorney general in 2011 and served through last year.
Otake returned home to Hawaii last year as a federal prosecutor after working as a deputy prosecuting attorney and assistant U.S. attorney in Washington state.
The Federal Judicial Selection Commission agreed upon the names after reviewing more than 30 applicants.
The White House is expected announce a selection before Mollway assumes senior status in November. She’s been a Hawaii federal judge since 1998.