Retired judge: Vote ‘Yes’ to Question 2

I retired after serving 28 years as a Circuit Court judge here on the Big Island. I am in favor of Constitutional Amendment Question 2: Making the Senate Confirmation Process for Judicial Appointment More Uniform.

Under our state Constitution, there is a difference relating to the process of appointing District Court judges and circuit and appellate judges and justices.

Although the governor appoints the circuit and appellate judges and justices and the chief justice appoints District Court judges, the appointment process for all judges and justices should be the same.

This is the purpose of Constitutional Amendment Question 2, which is presented to the voters. The numbered sentences in Question 2 specify the process for making the appointment of District Court judges similar with circuit and appellate judges and justices.

The voters can eliminate the inconsistency by voting “Yes” to Question 2: Making the Senate Confirmation Process for Judicial Appointment More Uniform.

Please be sure to check one of the boxes. If left blank, it will be counted as a “No” vote.

Ronald Ibarra

Kailua-Kona

Vote ‘Yes’ to state ballot Question 1

Vote “YES” on Question 1 regarding state Constitutional amendments.

There is an important proposed amendment to our state Constitution this year. Our state Constitution still contains language allowing the Hawaii Legislature to prohibit same-sex marriage. The language reads: “The Legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.”

In 2013, the Legislature passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage. Two years later, in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

We all now have friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances who are happily married to same-sex partners.

Question 1 on page 2 of the General Election ballot asks, “Shall the state Constitution be amended to repeal the Legislature’s authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?”

Any voter who does not answer “Yes” to this question effectively votes to retain this language, because every ballot which leaves this question unanswered will be counted as a “No” vote.

Please vote “Yes” on this question.

Diana Van De Car

Volcano