Federal Judicial Selection Commission Sponsored by Hawaii Senators Submits Candidate List

The judicial selection commission sponsored by Senators Inouye and Akaka submitted to the senators a list of three candidates for an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. The vacancy is due to Judge David Ezra taking senior status on June 27. (According to the commission’s charter, the potential nominees whom the senators recommend to the White House must come from this list.) Ohio Senators Brown and Portman use a similar process in screening potential candidates for federal judgeships. In early June, the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Helmick, who had been recommended by a 17-member, bipartisan screening committee.