Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named nominees to fill two judicial vacancies in Circuit Court.

The appointments of Jeffrey P. Crabtree and Christine E. Kuri­yama are subject to state Senate confirmation.

Crabtree and Kuri­yama would fill vacant seats left by the retirement of Judge Patrick W. Border and the elevation of Judge Michael D. Wilson to associate justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

"Both Jeff and Christine have been involved with Hawaii’s judicial system for more than 30 years and will bring an extensive and diverse background to serve as effective judges," Abercrombie said in a news release. "I am confident that they will serve honorably and bring a well-rounded perspective to the First Judicial Circuit."

Circuit judges are appointed to 10-year terms by the governor from a list of nominees provided by the Judicial Selection Commission.

Crabtree, 60, is in private practice handling civil cases, including consumer protection, arbitration, professional negligence, personal injury and end-of-life medical decision-making. Licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1983, he previously worked as a full-time attorney in Massachusetts and New York. Crabtree served on the Hawaii State Bar Association board of directors from 1995 to 1998. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and his law degree from New York University School of Law.

District Family Court Judge Kuri­yama, 60, has served on the Oahu Family Court bench since 2004 and on a per diem basis since 1995. Prior to her full-time judicial appointment, she was a private attorney, Hawaii deputy attorney general, administrator for the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and staff attorney for U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye and the Hawaii House of Representatives majority office. Kuri­yama has been licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1979. Kuri­yama earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a law degree from Hastings College of Law.