US Senate Confirms Miske Prosecutor To Federal Bench
Micah Smith started working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Hawaii in 2018 and has handled some of the state’s highest profile criminal cases.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Micah Smith as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court of Hawaii.
Smith, a Kauai High School graduate, is an assistant U.S. attorney, who early in his career worked as a law clerk for former Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
In Hawaii, Smith has been involved in some of the state’s highest profile criminal cases, including the ongoing federal prosecution of alleged organized crime boss Michael Miske.
Smith was nominated by President Joe Biden to replace U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright, another former prosecutor.
Despite being a Democratic pick, he faced little resistance from Republicans during his confirmation hearing in October. He was confirmed in a bipartisan vote of 57-41.
Hawaii U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono issued a joint statement after voting for Smith’s confirmation, saying he has proven to be a “fair and impartial jurist.”
“He has the legal acumen as well as the character and temperament to serve on the federal bench,” the senators said. “We were proud to support his nomination and look forward to him serving Hawai‘i and the nation with integrity.”
On Thursday, the Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Shanlyn Park, another Biden nominee to the federal bench. If confirmed, Park will become the first Native Hawaiian woman to serve as a U.S. District Court judge.
