Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald has appointed three individuals to the District Family Court of the First Circuit on the island of Oʻahu. The nominees, Maria F. Penn, Wilson A. Unga, and Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano), were chosen from nomination lists provided by the Judicial Selection Commission on March 17, 2025. Senate confirmation is required for their six-year terms to proceed.
Maria F. Penn has been serving as a Per Diem District Family Judge since May 2022 and is currently a solo practitioner in civil litigation. Her career includes representation in medical malpractice, personal injury, and family law. She is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and joined the Hawaii State Bar in 2003.
Wilson A. Unga has been a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu since 2013, and he serves as the Felony Trials Division Chief. A graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, Unga joined the Hawaiʻi State Bar in 2012 and received the Mayor’s Exceptional Achievement Award in 2019.
Rochelle I. Vidinha (Cusumano) has served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu since 2001, currently leading the Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Unit. Before this role, she was a Parole Officer with the Hawaii Paroling Authority. She graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law and became a member of the Hawaii State Bar in 2001.
Recktenwald expressed confidence in the appointees, who all require legislative approval before taking office. "The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, and if confirmed, each will serve a term of six years."