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The Maui News
The state Senate will convene for a special session next month to consider the governor's and chief justice's appointments for the appeals and district courts.
The senators will be looking to fill the vacancy left by Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Alexa D.M. Fujise, who retired in April. Earlier this month, Gov. David Ige announced that he was appointing Circuit Judge Karen Tooko Nakasone to the appeals court.
Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, meanwhile, has appointed seven individuals to fill vacancies left by retiring district and family court judges on Oahu. The appointees are Tracy S. Fukui, Thomas A.K. Haia, Karin L. Holma, Courtney N. Naso, Elizabeth Paek-Harris, Andrew T. Park and Bryant Zane.
The Senate's review process will begin with a Judiciary Committee hearing at 1 p.m. Oct. 1.
Members of the public who wish to testify via videoconference should visit www.capitol.hawaii .gov to submit their written testimony and select "yes" when asked if they will be testifying remotely for the hearing. Written testimony is required to participate via videconference and must be submitted at least 24 hours before the hearing. More information will be provided on the hearing notice and the Capitol website.
The Senate will convene in a floor session at 10 a.m. Oct. 5, followed by a separate decision-making meeting of the Judiciary Committee at 10:30 a.m. Final Senate votes on the appointments are expected at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6.
The special session will only be to address the pending judicial appointments.
All Senate hearings and floor sessions will be livestreamed online. Select proceedings will also be broadcast on 'Olelo and Neighbor Island cable networks.