State Seeks District Court Per Diem Judges

Applications are being accepted for per diem judges for District Family Court and/or District Court of the 5th Circuit.

Per diem judges are part-time judges appointed by the chief justice on an “as needed basis” to preside over matters in District Court. Applicants must be residents and citizens of the state and the United States and must have been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi for a period of no less than five years preceding nomination.

Applications should be submitted by Jan. 7, 2022.

An original and three copies of completed applications can be mailed or hand-delivered to Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges, ATTN: Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano, 3970 Kaʻana St., Līhuʻe, HI 96766.

An additional copy must be mailed or hand-delivered directly to Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi, 417 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.

Be advised that the Commission on Judicial Conduct indicated in a formal opinion that any per diem judge and their partners and associates may not practice in the court to which the per diem judge is assigned. Furthermore, government employees are disqualified from serving as per diem judges.

Once appointed, per diem judges are prohibited from holding other public positions for profit.

After receiving instructions and filling out the application form, nominees are interviewed by the Committee to Evaluate Qualifications of Per Diem Judges. Upon selection, an order of appointment must be filed. After taking the oath of office, per diem judges are ready for assignments.

During their term of service, per diem judges can still engage in the private practice of law subject to the limitations set forth above. Compensation is received only for the days which actual service is rendered based on the monthly rate of compensation paid to a District Court judge.