Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Judicial Selection Commission has announced a judicial vacancy for the position of District Judge in the District Court of the Third Circuit, which serves the island of Hawaiʻi. The Commission is currently accepting applications and nominations to fill this position.
According to the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, eligible candidates must be residents and citizens of both the State of Hawaiʻi and the United States. They must also be licensed to practice law by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding their nomination for a district judge position.
A district judge serves a term of six years. The current annual salary for a district judge in Hawaiʻi is $225,828, though this figure is subject to change as determined by the Commission on Salaries and subsequent legislative action. Judges are required to reside in the judicial circuit for which they are appointed.
The Chief Justice holds the discretion to assign a district judge or district family judge to either the District Court or Family Court.
Full-time judges receive a comprehensive benefits package, which includes employer contributions to state-sponsored medical, drug, vision, and dental plans, a free life insurance policy, state retirement benefits, and access to a deferred compensation supplemental retirement savings plan. They are also provided 13 paid holidays annually (14 during election years), and accrue 21 vacation and 21 sick leave days per year. It is noted that benefits are subject to modification or termination based on changes in statutes or regulations. Judges are subject to mandatory retirement upon reaching the age of seventy years.
The Judicial Selection Commission encourages anyone from across the islands who meets the constitutional requirements and is interested in the position to apply directly.
For Nominations: Individuals wishing to nominate qualified candidates are invited to do so by mailing the nominee’s full name and mailing address to the Commission at the address below. The nomination deadline is August 25, 2025.
To Apply: Interested applicants should visit the Commission’s website to complete form JS-P-084, the Application for Judicial Office Form. Completed applications must be postmarked on or before the application deadline of October 9, 2025, and mailed to:
Commission Chair Florence T. Nakakuni, Esq. Judicial Selection Commission State of Hawaiʻi 417 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813