Four West Hawaii prosecutors made the list of six finalists to replace retired District Court Judge Joseph P. Florendo.
Four West Hawaii prosecutors made the list of six finalists to replace retired District Court Judge Joseph P. Florendo.
State Judiciary officials on Friday released the list of names, from which state Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald will select a nominee. That selection is subject to Senate confirmation.
On the list are prosecutors Jeffrey Burleson, Michael Schlueter, Cynthia Tai and Kimberly Taniyama, Deputy Public Defender Wendy DeWeese and Deputy Corporation Counsel Margaret Masunaga.
Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth said including so many of his deputies shows the “quality and caliber” of attorneys working for his office in West Hawaii.
“It’s a great compliment to our office that we have so many people, four of six, on that list,” Roth said. “I’d be very happy (for any of) them (if they were selected).”
Masunaga, a graduate of the McGeorge School of Law at University of the Pacific in Sacramento, joined the corporation counsel’s office in 1992. In 2007, she worked for the state Attorney General’s Office in Kona, until 2009, when she was appointed as the deputy planning director, a position she held until 2013.
“I’m very honored and humbled to be on the list,” Masunaga said.
Tai rejoined the prosecutor’s office earlier this year, after spending six years working in the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She previously worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney for 10 years.
“It’s a privilege and honor to be considered,” Tai said.
DeWeese came to Hawaii in 2005, after having her own practice for many years in California, where she worked mainly on family law cases. She spent worked as a clerk for Judge Ronald Ibarra before taking the Hawaii Bar Exam in 2006. She joined the public defender’s office in 2007.
She said she is honored to be in a community she can serve, and being named a finalist to become a judge is “beyond belief.”
Messages left for the other four finalists were not returned as of press time Friday.
Florendo retired in June after nearly 30 years on the bench.
Recktenwald is seeking comments from the community on all of the candidates. Comments must be post-marked, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Sept. 26. All comments will be kept confidential.
The contact information is: Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, by fax to (808) 539-4703 or email chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov
Email Erin Miller at emiller@westhawaiitoday.com.