GOVERNOR GREEN CONSIDERS NOMINEES FOR INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS VACANCY

news Release from Office of the Governor, February 11, 2026 

HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green today announced that he has received the list of nominees to fill the Intermediate Court of Appeals vacancy for an Associate Judge.

Under Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, the governor must appoint a judge from a list of nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission within 30 days, with the consent of the Hawaiʻi State Senate.

The Judicial Selection Commission submitted the following nominees, listed in alphabetical order:

• Lance D. Collins, currently president/principal attorney, Law Office of Lance D. Collins and a Per Diem District and Family Court Judge. He is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
• Daniel M. Gluck, currently a deputy Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
• Nickolas A. Kacprowski, currently a partner at Dentons US LLP. He is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law.
• Robert T. Nakatsuji, currently a deputy prosecuting attorney, City and County of Honolulu. He is a graduate of William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

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

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals, State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date:  02/11/2026)

JSC Press Release, Feb 11, 2026 

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 Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals, State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office became vacant upon the elevation of the former Associate Judge Karen T. Nakasone to the position of Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in July 2025.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial vacancy of Associate Judge in the Intermediate Court of Appeals are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

• Lance D. Collins
• Daniel M. Gluck
• Nickolas A. Kacprowski
• Robert T. Nakatsuji

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

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 8 ; 1 Females; 7 Males
• First Time Applicants:  1
• Government Attorneys:  4
• Private Attorneys:  2
• Judges:  1
• Per Diem Judges:  1
• Other:  1
• Age Range:  0 (31-40); 4 (41-50); 4 (51-60); 0 (61-70)
• Years Licensed Range:  10 years to 36 years

Additional Information

Days in Recruitment: 90 Days

The Honorable James H. Ashford withdrew his application after the Judicial Selection Commission’s request for public comment but before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission.  Judge Ashford is not included in the statistics above.

Meetings held and decision made in January 2026 with 9 Commissioners present.