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.