Hawaii
Hawaii Supreme Court By The Numbers:
Justice
Former prosecutor
Former public defender
Vacancy
- 5 total seats
- 2 current vacancies
- 1 prosecutor
- 1 public defender
- 0 Justices have other indigent defense experience
- 0 civil rights lawyers
How Members of the Hawaii Supreme Court are Selected:
Appointment, Legislative Confirmation, Commission Retention
The governor nominates a candidate from a shortlist provided by the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission, and the nominee must then be confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate. The Judicial Selection Commission consists of nine members (no more than four of whom are lawyers) who are appointed by a mix of the governor, the state bar, the state House Speaker, state Senate President, and the Chief Justice. Confirmed justices serve 10-year terms. To remain on the court, justices must receive a majority vote by members of the selection commission.
Selection method sources:
Ballotpedia, Judicial Election Methods By State; Brennan Center for Justice, Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map; Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission