The state is one step closer to having a new Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Wednesday morning the state senate judiciary committee gave full approval to the nomination of Mark Recktenwald to become the next Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice.
54-year-old Recktenwald has been an associate justice on the high court since last May.
He was Governor Lingle's second choice.
Last month the senate rejected her first nominee, state appeals court Judge Katherine Leonard.
The full senate is expected to approve Recktenwald Thursday.
