Governor to consider nominees to fill judicial vacancies

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HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige has received a list of nominees from the Judicial Selection Commission for the vacancies created by the retirement of former Third Circuit Court judges Glenn S. Hara and Ronald Ibarra.

HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige has received a list of nominees from the Judicial Selection Commission for the vacancies created by the retirement of former Third Circuit Court judges Glenn S. Hara and Ronald Ibarra.

The commission submitted the list of nominees to the governor on Monday after evaluation and investigation into the background and qualifications of each applicant.

The nominees to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Ibarra are:

Gregory A. Ferren – Attorney, Law Office of Gregory A. Ferren

Robert D.S. Kim – Attorney/President, Robert D.S. Kim, Inc.

Michael H. Schlueter – Attorney/Partner, Schlueter &Kwiat, LLLP

Kimberly B.M. Taniyama – Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii

The nominees to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of the Honorable Glenn S. Hara are:

Harry P.N.S. Freitas – District Court Judge, District Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaii)

Jeffrey A. Hawk – Attorney

Henry T. Nakamoto – District Family Court Judge, Third Circuit

Jeffrey W.S. Ng – Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawaii Office of the Public Defender

Ige will interview each nominee and is seeking public comment through the governor’s website at https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor.

Ige has 30 days, or until Aug. 30, to make his appointments.