David Y. Ige

HONOLULU –  Gov. David Ige today released the names of the judicial nominees that were provided by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill one vacancy each on the First Circuit Court (O‘ahu) and Third Circuit Court (island of Hawai‘i).

The Judicial Selection Commission reviewed and evaluated the backgrounds and qualifications of all applicants before submitting its nominees to the governor.

Gov. Ige has 30 days to submit his selections to the Hawai‘i State Senate, which must confirm the nominees.

Nominees for Circuit Judge, First Circuit Court (O‘ahu)

LindaLee K. Farm – is a partner at Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn and Stifel where she concentrates on commercial litigation including commercial and business disputes, professional liability defense, personal injury and wrongful death claims, products liability, employment practices liability, Native Hawaiian rights, land use and appellate advocacy.

Timothy E. Ho – has served as the chief deputy public defender since 2004. He is a 1987 graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and has worked for the Office of the Public Defender for 28 years, serving as the supervisor of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Division from 1997 to 2004.

Shirley M. Kawamura — has served as a District Court judge since 2012. A former commercial and insurance defense litigator at Kawashima Lorusso, LLP, she also worked as a trial deputy at the Office of the Public Defender.  She is a 1997 graduate of the Stanford Law Center.

James S. Kawashima – has served as a per diem judge with the District Court since 2010, concentrating on both criminal and civil litigation. He is a graduate of Iolani School and Princeton University and remains active in educational outreach programs, both judicial and extrajudicial.

James C. McWhinnie – is a litigation attorney at Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert. He has served as litigation practice group leader since April 1, 1989. McWhinnie has also worked in commercial litigation and has practiced law in Hawai‘i since 1983.

Jonathan L. Ortiz – has been practicing law in Hawai‘i since 1978. He has practiced civil litigation since 1982, serving as a deputy public defender and general counsel for the State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO). Ortiz is a graduate of Castle High and received his J.D. degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Nominees for Circuit Judge, Third Circuit Court (island of Hawai‘i)

Gregory A. Ferren – specializes in general litigation and business transactions, including real estate, contracts, personal injury, constitutional rights, public sector law and legal ethics. He has represented clients such as Oracle, Yahoo! and Apple. He graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1987 and the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1995.

Melvin H. Fujino – is a District Family Court judge. He has also served as a deputy attorney general and was a team leader responsible for the Statewide Wiretap Review Unit and Asset Forfeiture program; a deputy prosecuting attorney; and was the supervisor and community oriented prosecutor for the West Hawai‘i branch of the Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Robert D.S. Kim – has a private practice where he concentrates on civil litigation, commercial, real estate, environmental, family and criminal law, as well as public interest litigation. He has practiced law in Hawai‘i since 1990. He received a B.A. from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and his J.D. degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

 Laureen L. Martin – Bio not available.

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