Senate Passes Two Bills Relating to Judges on Third Reading

During this morning’s Session, the Hawaii State Senate passed two Senate Bills on Third Reading, Senate Bill 2205 and Senate Bill 2206. Both Bills have now been transmitted to the House.

Senate Bill 2205 proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the number of nominees presented by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill state court judicial vacancies. The Judicial Selection Commission is currently mandated by the State Constitution to present to the Governor  a list of not less than four and not more than six nominees to fill a vacancy in the Office of the Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. The Judicial Selection Commission also presents to the Chief Justice a list of not less than six nominees to fill a vacancy in the District Courts.  Lowering the number of nominees for consideration to fill a state court judicial vacancy to three nominees enhances the level of review the Judicial Selection Commission engages in when selecting nominees from the pool of judicial applicants.  A higher level of review by the commission thereby better enables the Governor and Chief Justice to appoint the most qualified nominee to serve on the bench. For more information about Senate Bill 2205 and to track the bills progress go to: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2205.

Senate Bill 2206 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age of justices and judges from 70 to 80 years of age. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor found that there are a number of judges and justices who are willing and able to serve on the bench past the mandatory retirement age of seventy. While committee further recognized that a mandatory retirement age ensures continued opportunity to serve on the bench, it also believed that judges and justices who are willing and able to serve should be allowed to do so until the age of eighty. For more information about Senate Bill 2205 and to track the bills progress go to: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2206.