GOVERNOR LINGLE NOMINATES GLENN KIM AS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE AND MARK RECKTENWALD AS CHIEF JUDGE OF INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS

For Immediate Release:  February 14, 2007

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today nominated Glenn J. Kim to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu) and Mark E. Recktenwald as chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. 

Glenn John Kim

Kim is a deputy prosecuting attorney with the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, which he first joined in 1993.  He has served as supervisor of the department’s Domestic Violence Misdemeanor and Felony Units and as a felony trial attorney with the Career Criminal and Domestic Violence Units.

“Glenn’s extensive experience and his strong understating of the legal system will serve him well as a Circuit Court judge,” said Governor Lingle.  “The input I received from the legal community on Glenn’s professionalism, integrity and legal expertise demonstrates the respect and confidence he has earned from his colleagues.”

Kim was a law clerk to Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon, a judicial extern for U.S. District Court Judge Alan Kay, and a defender intern with the Office of the Public Defender.

He received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Hawai‘i.  He also earned his masters and doctorate degrees from Harvard University. 

He previously was an instructor in English and a lecturer on history and literature at Harvard University, as well as an assistant professor of English at the University of Hawai‘i.

Kim served in the U.S. Army and earned a Bronze Star Medal during his tour of duty in Vietnam.

Mark Ellis Recktenwald

Recktenwald has been the director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs since January 2003.  During his tenure he has focused on expanding protections against identity theft and enforcing Hawai‘i’s consumer protection laws, including guarding against unfair and deceptive trade and business practices, and insurance and securities fraud.  He also worked to make the department more accessible to the public by expanding on-line services.

“Mark is a dedicated public servant who always conducts himself with the highest level of integrity, professionalism and fairness,” said Governor Lingle.  “He is well respected within the legal community and has broad experience in both the state and federal court systems. Mark has been a valuable member of my Administration who has done an outstanding job of serving the interests of Hawai‘i’s consumers and businesses.  While he will be greatly missed by our entire Administration, I am proud to name him as chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, where he will continue to serve the people of Hawai`i.”

Prior to working for the state, Recktenwald was an assistant United States Attorney where he was responsible for litigating civil and criminal cases including white collar crimes.  He served as the health care fraud coordinator and environmental law enforcement coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and was a prosecutor in wildlife crimes and fraud involving financial institutions, taxes and investment scams. He also worked in the civil division, handling cases in which the government sought civil damages for fraud. 

Recktenwald also was a partner with the law firm of Marr Hipp Jones and Wang where he specialized in employment litigation.  He also worked as an associate with Goodsill Anderson Quinn and Stifel and was a law clerk to Chief U.S. District Judge Harold Fong.

He is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law School. 

Governor Lingle selected Kim and Recktenwald from two separate lists of six candidates each that were submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission last month.  The vacant positions are being created by the retirement of Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge James Burns and Circuit Court Judge Marcia Waldorf.

Kim is Governor Lingle’s ninth appointee to the Circuit Court bench.  Recktenwald is the Governor’s third appointee to the Intermediate Court of Appeals.  The Governor has also appointed one justice to the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043