Hirono & Schatz Statements on the Nomination of Mark Bennett to U.S. Circuit Court

Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz announced the nomination of former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett to serve in the open Hawaii seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

“Attorney General Bennett has extensive experience practicing law in the public and private sectors in Hawaii and at the federal level,” Senator Hirono said. “Mark is a well-qualified nominee to serve on the Ninth Circuit.”

“Mark Bennett has a long and distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant in Hawaii that makes him well-qualified to serve as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” Senator Schatz said. "With more than two decades of public service, Mark has a reputation as a highly competent, principled attorney – something I saw first-hand when he served as Attorney General.  I am confident that he will be a fair, dispassionate jurist who will carefully follow the rule of law while reflecting Hawaii’s values."

Mark Bennett has been a director at Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher where he has specialized in civil and appellate litigation and government relations since 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bennett served for nearly eight years as Hawaii’s Attorney General under Governor Linda Lingle from 2003-2011.

Prior to his service as Attorney General, Mr. Bennett was a partner at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP and an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii.