[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6077164,"mediaKeyId","2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05","parentId",2965573,"title","Supporters urge confirmation of Ka'ua Jackson for Third Circuit judge; committee delays vote","audioSeconds",979,"startMs",986000,"endMs",6475,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05&start=986&end=6","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05/thumbnail_986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077164/Hawaii/Supporters-urge-confirmation-of-Kaua-Jackson-for-Third-Circuit-judge-committee-delays-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077164-2657c27bc9a3f4586e76ffc8c7b16e40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133908&Signature=BscYPnO3MMbcofUD1XLhndTX3fyCj89FAcX1zu-ZtNqTAlQcChf-pq1Y52Ki40-yY5dmVq1PY~CXqO1QeAtm5Qlhev1m5mCjAIMd-sDJTgZyRMGspJ7ZQcOKOwrDmbIGamryUqDG77qcJdtrRu77JA64RBBcyRoMFiKuu72FzRpM2561qz4XVlpmDBn0vi4BMYQYcbQzMR~4O7VAyfhvL3qeXGaoy31PX88m-1n2q6G6Hq8B0aB~cQ05VfI1QgbXZ1F9O8wL8X3u-5GiakuRhLNw8V6yhU58PVYwb5Woe73pxtI6sXJUtY-17LImb7~yh4nP3NX-uv2Z63ix4n69YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Committee on Judiciary","date","2025-04-12T00:20:12.497Z","article","The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Friday heard public testimony supporting the governor’s nomination of Ka'ua Jackson to be a circuit court judge in the Third Circuit but deferred a confirmation vote to a later date.

Supporters, including local bar leaders, retired judges and longtime practitioners, told the committee Jackson has the experience and temperament the Third Circuit needs after a vacancy that has required repeated use of per‑diem judges. \"The Third Circuit deserves stability and consistency that can be restored by the appointment of a permanent judge,\" said Annalisa Wolf, president of the West Hawaii Bar Association, describing results of that group's review and written submission.

The Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) testified that it reviewed Jackson under the association’s judicial screening process and concluded she met the bar's criteria. \"We read the comments. We go over those comments, twice with the nominee, and the board gets to ask the nominee about, you know, pros and cons,\" HSBA President Mark Murakami said, adding the organization receives member comments confidentially and does not publish a numeric tally. Murakami told senators the HSBA membership list is about 8,000 statewide but said the board does not routinely disclose the number of member responses and that reviews are handled by a committee and later a full‑board interview.

Retired Judge Robert Diaz Kim, who said he took the seat left by Judge Ronald Ibarra, urged the committee to confirm Jackson, saying he had known her for decades and had \"no hesitation\" about recommending her for Division 3. Several island attorneys and community members also spoke in support, describing her work in prosecutions and her courtroom experience.

Jackson appeared before the committee and acknowledged gaps in civil litigation experience, saying she expected to be assigned to a civil docket initially and committed to learning: \"I ask that you see that I am qualified not based upon what I know now or what I know in the past, but what I am capable of knowing in the future.\" She said she would use trainings, mentors and bench resources to handle civil matters.

Committee leadership announced there would be no vote on the two judicial nominees at this hearing. \"I'm planning to not vote... We'll put that off until Tuesday, April 15 in 02:25 at 09:30,\" the chair said earlier in the hearing; later the committee clarified the postponed vote is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 225. The postponement means the committee moved forward with other items on the agenda but took no formal action on GM 767 at this session.

Why it matters: The Third Circuit vacancy has led to staffing strains and the use of temporary judges, which counsel and bar leaders said affects scheduling and the prompt resolution of cases. Confirming a permanent judge would address those operational issues in Hawaii County.

What’s next: The committee will take up the nomination for a recorded vote at the rescheduled session on April 15 (10:00 a.m., Room 225). No committee vote occurred on GM 767 during this hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","JDC Public Hearing 04-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Judiciary on Friday heard public testimony supporting Ka'ua Jackson’s nomination to the Third Circuit but postponed a confirmation vote until a later meeting.","taxTitle","Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senate, Legislative , Hawaii","taxId",25734,"location","Hawaii","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077160,"Testimony splits on Sonia Toma’s nomination to Maui family court; opponents cite conflict of interest",2725,2732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05&start=2732&end=6","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05/thumbnail_2732000.jpg","/articles/6077160/Hawaii/Testimony-splits-on-Sonia-Tomas-nomination-to-Maui-family-court-opponents-cite-conflict-of-interest","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077160-0892513a80042e6f1a6d2ccac106d02a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133908&Signature=JQTq-igR6Ov-pzJFWIKbfQglPwCGTrbv9wXbMkYCcylDh5YjL5N1yUK5jOBPlyLomohYikFfApM7XMfHwgy8ehWJaiBizFRlBpy5oxhFj0r1kSM~Y5v1EXSoJyt5F1~AKhr9~oSm9JfS6at9KLb3GzdLMDLZOsZ2zkUQNdBAawDkc4NNlnV7Acp2Xjj0CVFD1omj~Zhe0zIQRieFFEfwhoxu~566XU1CmULIcm41MrVIORHaid1-aOglWlo~6anhaFiUVX4DK29fY6rgc8X7~vN3Q4X4hCdIQB8~PROtOt19DcQx8nwa7xKYuyvNp3cMTaKZyvofkT6NYawVC4zlYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Judiciary heard contested testimony on the nomination of Sonia Toma to the District Family Court of the Second Circuit (Maui County). Opponents told the committee her prior work as a deputy attorney general representing child welfare services raises a conflict of interest for a family court judgeship; supporters, including the Hawaii State Bar Association, said she is qualified and experienced.

Melody Rollnick (testifying in strong opposition) told senators that Toma’s prior role representing Child Protective Services means she would be presiding over the same agency she once advocated for. \"That presents a clear conflict of interest and undermines the appearance of judicial neutrality,\" Rollnick said.

Michelle Lehi, speaking on Zoom, gave detailed testimony about her personal experience with child welfare proceedings and said Toma signed court orders during the case. Lehi described the case as traumatic and blamed the attorney general’s office for decisions she said harmed her son. The committee cut short her allotted time, but the account occupied a substantial portion of public testimony.

HSBA President Mark Murakami told the committee the Hawaii State Bar Association conducted its screening and authorized a statement that it found Toma qualified. Murakami again described the HSBA process as involving a small appointed committee that interviews references and brings nominees before the full board; he told senators the board reviews confidential comments and does not publish a simple numeric tally of member responses.

Toma, the nominee, described her background in both private family law practice and in public service. She said she worked at the Department of the Attorney General from April 2021 through January 2023, representing Child Welfare Services and other state agencies, and later joined the county as corporation counsel and then the prosecutor’s office. She said she could not comment on the facts of confidential cases but disputed aspects of Lehi’s account and stressed she would be a fair and impartial judge if confirmed.

Toma also explained parts of the family‑court process during questioning: she said a child welfare agency must file a petition after a removal and that the agency \"has to file a petition within 48 hours\" after taking custody; she described the department's investigative role, the temporary foster custody hearing, and that the court appoints counsel for parents at initial hearings.

Committee leadership again said no confirmation vote would be taken on the judicial nominees at this hearing; the committee scheduled the vote for the rescheduled session on April 15 in Room 225. No formal action on JC 28 took place during this meeting.

Why it matters: Family court judges decide the custody and welfare of children and preside over cases involving Child Protective Services. Opponents argued that a recent role representing CPS would create at least the appearance of partiality; supporters said practical experience with family‑law practice and public agencies can prepare a judge to manage complex family cases.

What’s next: The committee will consider JC 28 at the rescheduled session on April 15, when members may take a recorded vote.","The Senate Judiciary Committee took testimony both for and against Sonia Toma’s nomination to the District Family Court of the Second Circuit, with opponents citing her prior role representing Child Protective Services as a conflict of interest.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077155,"Senate Judiciary committee confirms two nominees to the Public Defender Council",98,6362000,6460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05&start=6362&end=6460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965573-ab8c9f52c4a134c4484c4a0732944d05/thumbnail_6362000.jpg","/articles/6077155/Hawaii/Senate-Judiciary-committee-confirms-two-nominees-to-the-Public-Defender-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077155-43490a18a876ace7f1ba9d762cdaa013/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133908&Signature=OKXwox~cngWUpgeNxhgvKRlAphBfMdRmm3dmUyB80kbb4xi19tqXtTeZhxCCGVgWJf8KaDNj85M9eEvKyTTGYQfzqXkF6z6o~8-NxxiczcGj6sr7ln9ZGIhzMQi0K~S-9G7bqUe74HictvNDgvEsJy56Ec1pZR0VmrItwoFbCAB2lrSBfnuyMIEL-wSugk8VJ9HBvL3W-CWPiZ7~tU40BKg7JSRCxVzsQoaWwV2BxDiPbaxU-I6a04P5yb-hVRUXUO~53PFbrTmaSXKYDtXfejKmjF2LE2emQg7de~M0HDv7XdOP0vWkUVXovXNtPu3j9xyALsGKB~9h9KUTT~i69g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Judiciary voted to advise and consent to two governor's nominations to the Public Defender Council during the committee’s session.

On GM 7 26 the committee recommended and recorded an \"advise and consent\" vote for Andrew Kennedy to serve on the Public Defender Council for a term ending June 30, 2029. The committee roll call recorded the following: \"Senator Rhodes — Aye; Vice Chair Gabbard — Aye; Senator Chang — Aye; Senator San Buenaventura — Aye; Senator Owa — Aye.\" The committee chair announced the measure was adopted.

On GM 7 37 the committee recommended and recorded an \"advise and consent\" vote for Setsuko \"Gina\" Gormley to serve on the Public Defender Council for a term ending June 30, 2027. The chair called for any no votes; with none expressed, the chair stated the measure was adopted.

Both nominees had been recommended by the Office of the Public Defender. Haley Chung, representing the Office of the Public Defender, spoke in support of both nominations, saying the office values council members who understand the office’s mission and who collaborate with staff statewide.

Why it matters: The Public Defender Council helps set policy and oversight for the state public defender system, which provides constitutionally required legal defense services for indigent criminal defendants. Council membership affects policy priorities, staffing and training.

Vote details and next steps: Both nominations passed the committee and will be forwarded according to Senate rules for further action as required.","The Senate Committee on Judiciary voted to advise and consent to the nominations of Andrew Kennedy and Setsuko (Gina) Gormley to the Public Defender Council. Both nominees received unanimous committee approval during the hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supporters urge confirmation of Ka'ua Jackson for Third Circuit judge; committee delays vote

Testimony splits on Sonia Toma’s nomination to Maui family court; opponents cite conflict of interest

Senate Judiciary committee confirms two nominees to the Public Defender Council