Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Judicial Confirmation Rochelle Medina Cucumano topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rochelle E. Medina Cucumano highlights West Side roots, experience in family- and victim-focused work
Summary
Rochelle E. Medina Cucumano, nominated to the District Family Court of the First Circuit, told the Senate Judiciary Committee she would bring years of public-service experience and a community perspective to the bench. Prosecutors and community leaders testified in support; the committee deferred a vote to the next day.
Rochelle E. Medina Cucumano appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 23 for consideration and confirmation to the District Family Court of the First Circuit.
Supporters said Medina Cucumano brings experience with victims, parole and community work that would translate to family-court duties. "She has compassion," said Steve Alm, a Honolulu prosecutor, noting her background as a parole officer and as a prosecutor working on domestic-violence and sex-assault matters. Alan Cardenas Jr., a pastor and West Side community leader, said the nominee would be a role model for children on Oahu’s West Side.
Medina Cucumano told the committee members she grew up on the Waianae Coast and that her upbringing informed her approach to serving families in crisis. "I am very, very thankful," she said. "I am committed. I have an unwavering commitment to serving our community," and she described 32 years in public service across parole and prosecution work.
Committee members asked about the practical responsibilities family-court judges may face, including assisted-community-treatment petitions. Medina Cucumano said she would order treatment when the law's criteria were met and stressed she would "stay abreast with the challenges that our community is facing so that when members of our community are before me, I can take those challenges into consideration along with the law, when I make fair and just rulings."
The Hawaii State Bar Association told the committee it had reviewed Medina Cucumano's application, conducted a character check and interviewed her, and the board found her qualified. Chair Rhodes repeated that the committee would not vote that day and that confirmation votes were scheduled for April 24 at 10 a.m. in Room 225. The chair reported there were 54 supporters on record, zero in opposition and one HSBA comment for JC 31.
Testimony emphasized Mateo's—(sic) the nominee's—roots in Waianae, her experience with victim advocacy and multidisciplinary teams, and her stated plan to learn family-court-specific law if confirmed. The committee recessed after hearing testimony; no formal vote occurred during the session.
