The Hawaii Senate confirmed a former U.S. Attorney as a state court judge, The Honolulu Advertiser reported today.

Edward Kubo (Hawaii.gov)

Only one senator voted against ex-U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo, a Republican, for a seat on Hawaii’s First Circuit Court. Kubo’s confirmation had been in doubt after a Senate committee that considers judicial nominees voted 3-3 on the nomination last week.

Democratic state Sen. Brian Taniguchi, the panel chairman, voted against Kubo in committee, but changed his position on the former U.S. Attorney after meeting with him to discuss his concerns. The Hawaii Senate typically takes its cues on confirmation votes from the leaders of the relevant Senate committee.

“I’m just very thankful, not only for being considered by the governor and by the Senate, I am very appreciative for all the people and everything that they’ve done in stepping forward,” Kubo told reporters, according to the newspaper.

Kubo, who has strong support from the Hawaii legal community, served as U.S. Attorney from 2001 until the end of September 2009, when Florence Nakakuni, President Obama’s choice for U.S. Attorney, was sworn in. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) nominated Kubo last month to succeed former First Circuit Judge Frances Wong, who has retired from the Oahu-based court.

A former Hawaii U.S. Attorney has likely won over a key state senator in support of his nomination to a state court, which would clear the way for his confirmation today, The Honolulu Advertiser reported today.

Edward Kubo (Hawaii.gov)

Democratic state Sen. Brian Taniguchi, who chairs the Senate panel that considers judicial nominations, told the newspaper he would likely vote to confirm ex-U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo, a Republican, for a seat on Hawaii’s First Circuit Court. The Hawaii Senate typically follows the recommendations of panel leaders on confirmation votes.

The chairman voted against Kubo in a 3-3 panel vote last week. Taniguchi said at the time that he didn’t support Kubo in committee because the federal prosecutor, who served during the George W. Bush administration didn’t sufficiently respond to questions about controversial cases he handled.

The Democratic state senator met with Kubo after the vote. They discussed Taniguchi’s concerns about apology letters Kubo was ordered to write jurors after a judge dismissed a case because Kubo didn’t make a 1997 court hearing. They also discussed a March 2009 Hawaii U.S. Attorney’s Office friend-of-the-court brief which, according to an Assistant U.S. Attorney, improperly eased a restraining order against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

The former U.S. Attorney told panel members during a hearing that he missed the court hearing because of a power outage and didn’t work on the filing of the friend-of-the-court brief.

“After the vote, I thought he handled himself very well,” Taniguchi told The Advertiser. “He was very professional.”

Kubo, who has strong support from the Hawaii legal community, served as U.S. Attorney from 2001 until the end of September 2009, when Florence Nakakuni, President Obama’s choice for U.S. Attorney, was sworn in. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) nominated Kubo last month to succeed former First Circuit Judge Frances Wong, who has retired from the Oahu-based court.

The Hawaii governor tapped the state’s previous top federal prosecutor for a Hawaii circuit court seat, the Honolulu Star Bulletin reported today.

Ed Kubo Jr. (Honolulu.gov)

Gov. Linda Lingle (R) nominated ex-U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. to succeed former First Circuit Judge Frances Wong, who has retired from the Oahu-based court. Kubo served as U.S. Attorney from 2001 until the end of September, when Florence Nakakuni, President Barack Obama’s U.S. Attorney, was sworn in.

“He has a well-rounded legal background that includes extensive experience as the United States’ chief federal law enforcement officer and principal litigator in Hawai‘i, a prosecuting attorney for the city and a private practice trial attorney,” Lingle said in a statement. “Ed has been an exemplary public servant and an outstanding citizen who is committed to improving our community and I am confident he will continue to serve the public well as a Circuit Court judge.â€�

The Hawaii governor picked Kubo from a list of six finalists who were submitted to her in December by a state selection committee.

Kubo told the newspaper that he was “honored” by the nomination.