Maui per diem judge among appeals court nominees

A Maui attorney and per diem judge is among five nominees that Gov. Josh Green is considering for the position of associate judge on the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

The state Judicial Selection Committee sent the list of nominees to Green on Friday following a thorough review. The nominees are:

● Lance Collins, who is currently a per diem judge for District and Family Court in Maui’s 2nd Circuit. Collins is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.

● Rebecca Copeland, who is currently a District Family Court judge in Oahu’s 1st Circuit as well as the lead judge in the Special Division and presiding judge in Truancy Court. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law.

● Kimberly Tsumoto Guidry, who is the solicitor general and supervising deputy attorney general with the state Department of the Attorney General. She received her law degree from the UH-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.

● Deirdre Marie-Iha, who works as an attorney and is a partner at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel. She graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law.

● Taryn Tomasa Gifford, who is an attorney and deputy public defender. She is a graduate of the UH-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.

Green must make his appointment within 30 days, or by April 16. The public can provide comments on the nominees via governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/.

Once selected, the nominee will be subject to confirmation by the state Senate.