Senate Judiciary Committee consents to multiple judicial nominees, advances them to full Senate

The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Thursday, April 24 voted to consent to a series of judicial nominations and will send the nominees to the full Senate for final confirmation.

The committee recorded consent recommendations and adopted them on voice/roll-call for each nomination with minimal discussion. Committee members who voted “Aye” in the roll calls identified on the record were Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura; Vice Chair Gabbard and several other senators were listed as excused at different points in the hearing. The committee chair said the Senate floor vote is anticipated Wednesday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m.

The committee advanced the following nominations (committee action and terms as stated in the hearing):

• Governor’s Message 790 — Karen T. Nakasone, nominated for Chief Judge of the State of Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals for a term to expire in 10 years. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted; recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura. Vice Chair Gabbard and Senator Awa were excused for this item. The recommendation was adopted.

• Governor’s Message (transcript label “GM 7 80 8”) — Karen L. Houma, nominated for Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Oahu), for a term to expire in 10 years. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted. The hearing record includes a remark noting public concerns raised by a person identified as Celeste and a reference to “Judge Holmes” in the discussion; the committee stated that the nominee is qualified and that the term limit will allow the nominee’s performance to be evaluated during the term. Recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura; Vice Chair Gabbard and Senator Waugh were excused for this vote where indicated. The recommendation was adopted.

• Governor’s Message 789 — (transcript identifies) Taryn R. Tomas and Gifford, nominated for Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Court of the First Circuit, for a term to expire in 10 years. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted. Recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura; Vice Chair Gabbard and Senator Awa were listed as excused in the record for this item. The recommendation was adopted.

• Judiciary Communication 29 — Maria F. Penn, nominated for District Family Court of the First Circuit for a term to expire in 6 years. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted with no objections recorded. Recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura; no objections or reservations were recorded in the hearing transcript.

• Judiciary Communication 30 — Wilson A. Unga, nominated for District Family Court of the First Circuit for a term to expire in 6 years. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted with no objections recorded. Recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura.

• Judiciary Communication 31 — (transcript identifies) Rochelle I., the Dina Cusumano (transcript phrasing), nominated for District Court of the First Circuit for a term to expire in 6 years. The hearing record notes that the nominee was unable to appear for family reasons; the committee was asked not to hold the absence against the nominee. The committee’s recommendation to consent was adopted. Recorded “Aye” votes included Chair Rhodes, Senator Chang and Senator San Buenaventura; the committee noted the nominee’s absence and a family bereavement (the transcript references Steven Acusumano as the nominee’s father-in-law). The recommendation was adopted.

The committee chair said the full Senate floor vote is anticipated Wednesday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. The committee adjourned after the actions were completed.

Because the hearing record contains only the committee consent votes and limited discussion, the committee did not take additional formal actions beyond adopting the recommendations to consent and forwarding the nominees to the Senate floor. The transcript records the committee’s roll-call acknowledgments and several members listed as excused during portions of the hearing.