senate confirms leslie e. kobayashi for federal judgeship

More noteworthy news from the realm of judicial appointments... Over the weekend, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Leslie E. Kobayashi as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. She will take the spot chief district judge Helen Gillmor left vacant when she shifted to senior status last year: Kobayashi confirmed as Hawaii U.S. district judge.

"She has built an impeccable reputation as an attorney and magistrate-judge," Inouye said. "I am confident she will preside over the court with compassion and fairness."

"I thank my colleagues for confirming Judge Kobayashi, an outstanding and well-respected jurist known for her judicial temperament and her compassion," Akaka said.

Kobayashi has served as a magistrate-judge in Hawaii since 1999. Magistrate-judges handle misdemeanor criminal cases and assist district judges in pretrial criminal and civil matters.

She began her undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaii and finished at Wellesley College in 1979. She earned her juris doctorate from the Boston College School of Law in 1981.

Kobayashi spent 17 years in public and private practice as a Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney and at the law firm of Fujiyama Duffy & Fujiyama.

With Senate confirmation of the nominations of Judge Kobayashi and Judge Edmond E. Chang -- both on the same day -- President Obama has confirmed more Asian Pacific American federal judges than any other President in history. There are now thirteen active Asian Pacific American Article III judges in the nation.