Notice of Second Extended Deadline for Applications for Anticipated Judicial Vacancy – Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi

JSC Press Release, Sep 19, 2025

The Judicial Selection Commission is re-extending the deadline for applications to fill the anticipated judicial vacancy in the position of Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi to November 3, 2025.

The Commission has thus far received an insufficient number of applications for this important position. To strengthen the selection process and broaden the pool of qualified candidates for consideration, the Commission is extending the deadline by 45 days. The extension will provide additional time to encourage a greater number of qualified individuals to apply, thereby ensuring that the Commission, and ultimately, the appointing authority, have the widest range of options available.

The Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi requires that the persons selected by the Commission be residents and citizens of the State of Hawaiʻi and of the United States, and have been licensed to practice law by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. The Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court shall have been licensed for a period of not less than ten years preceding nomination. No justice or judge shall, during the term of office, engage in the practice of law, or run for or hold any other office or position of profit under the United States, the State or its political subdivisions.

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 vacancy was first announced on November 20, 2024 with a deadline of February 20, 2025 (90 days). The first extension was published on March 21, 2025, extending the deadline to September 11, 2025 (175 days).

The Commission emphasizes that broad participation in the application process is essential to ensuring the selection of highly qualified judges who will serve the people of Hawaiʻi with integrity, fairness, courage and commitment to justice.

The Judicial Selection Commission will be publishing the list of applicants to the Judicial Selection Commission website as provided under Judicial Selection Commission Rule 5, Section Two: Confidentiality A.

When the names of the applicants are published, the public will be invited to provide comments to the Judicial Selection Commission for a specific period of time.

The Commission invites anyone from all islands who meets the constitutional requirements and is interested in the position to apply directly to the Commission.

TO APPLY: Please visit the Commission’s website and fill out form JS-P-084, Application for Judicial Office Form. The application must be postmarked to the address below on or before the second extended application deadline of November 3, 2025.

Commission Chair Florence T. Nakakuni, Esq.
Judicial Selection Commission
State of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813