GOVERNOR GREEN CONSIDERS SEVEN NOMINEES FOR FOUR JUDICIAL VACANCIES 

Nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission

News Release from Office of the Governor, May 6, 2024

HONOLULU  ̶  Governor Josh Green, M.D., will name four judges to fill vacancies on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu), from a list of seven nominees he received from the Judicial Selection Commission. 

The vacancies resulted from the retirements of:

• Circuit Judge Jeffery P. Crabtree in January 2024,
• Circuit Judge Robert M. Browning in December 2023,
• Circuit Judge and Edward H. Kubo, Jr. in December 2019.

A fourth vacancy will occur in June 2024 with the retirement of Circuit Judge Gary W.B. Chang.

The Judicial Selection Commission provided the list of nominees to the Governor after a thorough review of the backgrounds and qualifications of all applicants.

 The nominees:

• Lance David Collins, attorney and president/principal, Law Office of Lance D. Collins
• Rebecca A. Copeland, a district family court judge with the state of Hawai‘i First Circuit 
• Brian Alexander Costa, a district family court judge with the state of Hawai‘i
• Harvey Michael Demetrakopoulos an attorney with Shim & Chang practicing personal injury litigation.
• Timothy Eric Ho, a judge in the District Court of the First Circuit, state of Hawai‘i
• Dyan Marie Medeiros, a district family court judge in Family Court of the First Circuit, state of Hawai‘i
• Steven Richard Nichols, deputy public defender, Felony Division Supervisor, Office of the Public Defender

The public is invited to provide comments on the nominees via the Governor’s website: https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/. 

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list on May 3, 2024, until Monday June 3, 2024, to make his appointment. The nominations are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

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JSC Press Releases--May 3, 2024

Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of O’ahu), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 05/03/2024) (Release Date 05/03/2024)

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, May 3, 2024

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Edward H. Kubo, Jr. in December 2019.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Lance D. Collins
Brian A. Costa
Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Dyan M. Medeiros
Steven R. Nichols

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment

Statistics

Total Applicants: 24; 7 Females; 17 Males
First Time Applicants: 4

Government Attorneys: 10
Private Attorneys: 7
Judges: 5
Per Diem Judges: 1
Other: 2

Age Range: 1 (31-40); 9 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 7 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 39 years

Additional Information

Vacancy was advertised in October 2019 for a total of 90 days. Meetings held in October 2020 but list was not delivered.
Vacancy re-advertised in October 2023 for a total of 180 days.
Meetings held in April and May 2024 and decision made in May 2024 with 9 Commissioners present.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of O’ahu), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 05/03/2024) (Release Date 05/03/2024)

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, May 3, 2024

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial office of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office will become vacant upon the retirement of Circuit Judge Gary W. B. Chang in June 2024.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Rebecca A. Copeland
Brian A. Costa
Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Dyan M. Medeiros
Steven R. Nichols

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

Total Applicants: 24; 7 Females; 17 Males
First Time Applicants: 4

Government Attorneys: 10
Private Attorneys: 7
Judges: 5
Per Diem Judges: 1
Other: 2

Age Range: 1 (31-40); 9 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 7 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 39 years

Additional Information

Meetings held in April and May 2024 and decision made in May 2024 with 9 Commissioners present.
Vacancy advertised for a total of 90 days.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of O’ahu), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 05/03/2024) (Release Date 05/03/2024)

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, May 3, 2024

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Jeffrey P. Crabtree in January 2024.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Brian A. Costa
Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Dyan M. Medeiros
Steven R. Nichols

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

Total Applicants: 24; 7 Females; 17 Males
First Time Applicants: 4

Government Attorneys: 10
Private Attorneys: 7
Judges: 5
Per Diem Judges: 1
Other: 2

Age Range: 1 (31-40); 9 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 7 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 39 years

Additional Information

Meetings held in April and May 2024 and decision made in May 2024 with 9 Commissioners present.
Vacancy advertised for a total of 180 days.

  *   *   *   *   *

Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of O’ahu), State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date: 05/03/2024) (Release Date 05/03/2024)

News Release from Judicial Selection Commission, May 3, 2024

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Robert M. Browning in December 2023.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Brian A. Costa
Harvey M. Demetrakopoulos
Timothy E. Ho
Dyan M. Medeiros
Steven R. Nichols

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

Total Applicants: 24; 7 Females; 17 Males
First Time Applicants: 4

Government Attorneys: 10
Private Attorneys: 7
Judges: 5
Per Diem Judges: 1
Other: 2

Age Range: 1 (31-40); 9 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 7 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range: 13 years to 39 years

Additional Information

Meetings held in April and May 2024 and decision made in May 2024 with 9 Commissioners present.
Vacancy advertised for a total of 90 days.