By a vote of 23-1, the Hawaii state Senate today confirmed Mike Wilson as Hawaii’s newest Supreme Court associate justice.

The only vote against Wilson was from Sen. Roz Baker. Laura Thielen and Michelle Kidani voted “aye” with reservations. Glenn Wakai was absent.

The final vote came after two lengthy, and often heated, hearings on Wilson, a Circuit Court judge nominated by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to replace the retiring Simeon Acoba.

Despite an unqualified rating from the Hawaii State Bar Association and lots of “innuendo, rumors and allegations” about Wilson — none substantiated — the Senate Judiciary and Labor committee stood by its unanimous endorsement of Wilson.

“There is nothing that this committee, in my humble opinion, has not undertaken to put him under the heaviest scrutiny that I have ever participated in,” said Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee.

But Baker said she believed concerns about Wilson’s work ethic, diligence and treatment of women had validity, based on conversations she had with people in confidence. 

Read Civil Beat’s reporting on the Wilson nomination:

Behind Closed Doors: How the Hawaii Bar Rated Judge Mike Wilson

Hawaii Women Senators Prompt Further Inquiry Into Judge Michael Wilson

Committee Sends Supreme Court Nomination to Full Hawaii Senate

Hawaii Bar on Wilson: ‘Lack of Professionalism,’ ‘Work Ethic Concerns’

Hawaii Senate Committee Finds No Reason to Reject Supreme Court Nominee

Photo: Judge Mike Wilson. (PF Bentley/Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair