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5

1

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Hawaii

Justice

Former prosecutor

Former public defender

Vacancy

Hawaii

Hawaii Supreme Court By The Numbers:

  • 5 total seats
  • 2 current vacancies
  • 1 prosecutor
  • 1 public defender
  • 0 Justices have other indigent defense experience
  • 0 civil rights lawyers

How Members of the Hawaii Supreme Court are Selected:

Appointment, Legislative Confirmation, Commission Retention

The governor nominates a candidate from a shortlist provided by the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission, and the nominee must then be confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate. The Judicial Selection Commission consists of nine members (no more than four of whom are lawyers) who are appointed by a mix of the governor, the state bar, the state House Speaker, state Senate President, and the Chief Justice. Confirmed justices serve 10-year terms. To remain on the court, justices must receive a majority vote by members of the selection commission.

Selection method sources:

Ballotpedia, Judicial Election Methods By State; Brennan Center for Justice, Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map; Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission

Current & Announced Future Vacancies: 2

Outgoing Vacancy Date Nominee Finalists
Paula Nakayama 4/21/2023
Michael Wilson 3/31/2023