Governor Green Appoints Michael Soong to Kauai Circuit Court Judgeship

A seat on the Fifth Circuit bench that went unfilled for seven months after Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe's August 2025 retirement now has a permanent nominee. Governor Josh Green named Michael K. Soong to the Kauaʻi and Niʻihau judgeship on March 31, choosing from a two-person list the Judicial Selection Commission submitted just 11 days earlier.

The vacancy carried real weight for islanders. Fifth Circuit judges preside over felony criminal sentencing, family court proceedings including custody and termination cases, protective order hearings, civil disputes, and land-use enforcement actions. Without a permanent judge, scheduling certainty for litigants and attorneys at the Līhuʻe courthouse depended on temporary assignments rather than a stable calendar. Soong's existing role as temporary chief judge limited the disruption, but a confirmed permanent appointment allows court administrators to plan dockets further out and reduces the compounding effect of delays in a small-island system with no surplus of judges to absorb backlogs.

Soong comes from within the Fifth Circuit's existing structure. He holds a District Court judgeship in the Fifth Circuit and had been temporarily assigned to Circuit Court, where he also served as chief judge. That dual-level familiarity with Kauaʻi's judiciary is uncommon: most circuit nominees arrive from private practice or other posts and need time to orient to the local docket. The judiciary's decision to place Soong in the temporary chief role before his appointment is a signal of institutional confidence in his administrative bearing. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Southwestern University School of Law.

"I am humbled by the trust placed in me and honored to serve the people of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in this role," Soong said. "I look forward to continuing my service with integrity, impartiality and a commitment to justice for our community."

The nomination process behind the appointment stretched nearly a year. The Judicial Selection Commission began accepting applications for the anticipated vacancy in April 2025, re-opened the application window in October after Watanabe's departure became official, and announced its two final nominees, Soong and Kimberly A. Torigoe Metcalfe, on March 20, 2026. Under state law the governor had 30 days from that date to choose; Green moved in 11. "Judge Annalisa Bernard Lee and Judge Michael Soong bring deep experience, integrity and a strong sense of service to the bench," Green said. "I am confident they will serve the people of Hawaiʻi with fairness and dedication."

What happens next determines when Soong's tenure officially begins. Under the Hawaiʻi Constitution, the Senate has 30 days to confirm or reject the appointment; if it takes no action within that window, the appointment is automatically confirmed. With the Legislature's regular session running through early May, the Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to schedule a confirmation hearing in April. Residents who want to weigh in can submit written testimony through the Legislature's Advise and Consent process; the Governor's Message number for the appointment can be tracked under the "Reports and Lists" section of the Legislature's official website. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs holds jurisdiction over judicial confirmations and is the appropriate oversight body for the appointment.