James C. McWhinnie has been nominated to a six-year term in District Court on Oahu to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Faye Koyanagi.

McWhinnie, a director with Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, handling commercial, product liability, construction, environmental and personal injury cases, was selected by Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.

McWhinnie has served as secretary and director of the Hawaii State Bar Association, as co-chairman of its Judicial Administration Committee, and was a co-founder of the Lawyer Kokua Program. He also served on HSBA’s Fee Dispute Committee, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and Litigation Section, and has volunteered in the Access to Justice Room at District Court.

His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Medication a likely factor in plane crash

WAILUKU >> Disorientation, downdrafts and the effects of an antihistamine are potential contributing factors in a fatal Lanai plane crash last year.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a report Wednesday that says pilot Richard Rooney had an antihistamine in his system when he became spatially disoriented while executing a turn at night, the Maui News reported.

The report says the sedating effects of the antihistamine may have contributed to Rooney’s disorientation.

Maui County chartered the plane for a Planning Department meeting. Rooney and county workers Tremaine Balberdi, 52, and Kathleen Kern, 50, died in the Feb. 26 crash near Lanai airport.

Balberdi’s daughter Malia Balberdi said in an email Thursday that the NTSB findings bring some closure, but don’t make dealing with the effects of the crash any easier.

“To think how our lives would be so different if the crash was prevented is something that we think about, especially during times of happiness and sadness,” she said.

Rooney’s ex-wife and business partner could not be reached Thursday.

Maui County did not comment on the findings, but said they still grieve for the victims.