JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR APPLICANTS FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, STATE OF HAWAIʻI

News Release from JSC, September 4, 2026

The Judicial Selection Commission, State of Hawaiʻi, is governed by Article VI of the State Constitution which requires that all of its “deliberations” be confidential.  The Judicial Selection Commission is committed to increasing the transparency of its activities to the extent permitted by law and consistent with its goal of choosing the best possible nominees from the broadest and most diverse pool of candidates it can obtain.  Until March 16, 2022, the Judicial Selection Commission Rules have prohibited the Judicial Selection Commission from sharing the names of applicants applying for judicial positions.

In accordance with the Judicial Selection Commission Rule 5, Section 2:  Confidentiality A. as further amended and effective March 16, 2022, the Judicial Selection Commission announces the applicants applying for the judicial office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi.

The list of applicants applying to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi, is listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Robert Brian Black aka R. Brian Black
Lance D. Collins
Rebecca A. Copeland
David M. Forman
Nickolas A. Kacprowski
Shirley M. Kawamura [Shimizu]
James S. Kawashima
Benjamin E. Lowenthal
Sonja M. L. P. McCullen
Karen T. Nakasone
Robert T. Nakatsuji
Catherine H. Remigio

The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments on the applicants applying for the judicial office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi.

Written comments should include the applicant’s name and information about the background, professional skills and character of the applicant in areas such as:

     (1)  integrity and moral courage
     (2)  legal ability and experience
     (3)  intelligence and wisdom
     (4)  compassion and fairness
     (5)  diligence and decisiveness
     (6)  judicial temperament
     (7)  such other qualities that the commission deems appropriate
     (See Judicial Selection Commission Rule 10)

Written comments should also include the following contact information:

Your signature;
Your printed name;
Your phone number, including area code; and
Your email address, if applicable.

All written comments will be kept CONFIDENTIAL.

Please submit written comments postmarked or faxed no later than October 5, 2026 to:

Commission Chair Florence T. Nakakuni, Esq.
Judicial Selection Commission
State of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Fax:  (808) 538-5205

For more information, visit the Judicial Selection Commission webpage or contact the Commission via email at judselect.comm@courts.hawaii.gov.

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