GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES NOMINATION LISTS FOR MAUI AND BIG ISLAND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES

For Immediate Release: December 27, 2004

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle released today two lists provided to her by the Judicial Selection Commission from which she will make appointments to fill two newly established positions on the Circuit Court of the Second (Maui) and Third (Big Island) Circuits.  The two lists of six nominees each are the products of the Judicial Selection Commission’s review of the background and qualifications of all applicants and its evaluation of each applicant.  The Commission does not rank the candidates. 

In her continuing effort to maintain openness in her administration, Governor Lingle has again elected to make the lists available prior to making the appointments. 

Nominees to fill a vacancy in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit (Maui):

Jan K. Apo – Current position: private practice attorney, Law Offices of Jan. K. Apo.  Prior experience: managing partner, Tateishi & Apo; supervising attorney, Public Defenders Office (Honolulu); former deputy public defender (Honolulu and Maui).

Richard T. Bissen, Jr. – Current position: acting Director of Public Safety.  Prior experience: first deputy attorney general; prosecuting attorney (Maui); partner, Cardoza, Fukuoka and Bissen.

Mimi DesJardins – Current position: private practice attorney.  Prior experience: deputy corporation counsel (Maui); deputy public defender (Maui); deputy prosecuting attorney (Maui).

Jerry W. Hupp – Current position: deputy prosecuting attorney (Maui).  Prior experience: law clerk, Honorable Boyd Mossman.

Kelsey Kawano – Current position: private practice attorney.  Prior experience: resident partner, Carlsmith Wichman Case Mukai & Ichiki; associate, Kidani, Oshima and Wong.

Rhonda I. L. Loo – Current position: District Court judge.  Prior experience: deputy prosecuting attorney (Maui).

Nominees to fill the vacancy of the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (Big Island):

Aley K. Auna, Jr. – Current position: Family Court judge.  Prior experience: deputy attorney general; private practice attorney.

Peter Bresciani – Current position: Office of the Public Defender (Kona).  Prior experience: Office of the Public Defender (Captain Cook); partner, Tamburello, Hanlon & Bresciani (San Francisco, Calif.); LeRue Grim (San Francisco, Calif.).

Harry P. N. S. Freitas – Current position: deputy corporation counsel.  Prior experience: deputy prosecuting attorney; deputy public defender, deputy district attorney (Marin County, Calif.); private practice attorney.

Melvin H. Fujino – Current position: deputy prosecuting attorney.  Prior experience: law clerk, First Circuit Court; law clerk, Kona Division; law clerk, Hawai`i County Prosecutor’s Office; U.S. federal magistrate (Spokane, Wash.).

John L. Olson – Current position: private practice attorney.  Prior experience: Office of the Public Defender; Law Office of Richard T. Ishida.

Elizabeth A. Strance – Current position: partner, Strance & Nakoa; per diem judge, Third Circuit District and Family Courts.  Prior experience: partner, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel; associate, Peterson & Gravelle; associate, Greely Walker & Kowen.

The Governor has 30 days from receipt of the lists (December 21, 2004) to make her selections.

Public comments on the nominees may be sent via e-mail to Governor.Lingle@hawaii.gov or by fax at 808-586-0006.  All comments should be submitted by the close of business on Monday, January 10, 2005.

####

For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus  
Senior Advisor – Communications  
Phone: 586-7705

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: 586-0043

Sidney Ayabe
Chair, Judicial Selection Commission
Phone: 538-5200