WASHINGTON — President Obama on April 21 nominated Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi and Edmond E. Chang to United States District Court judgeships.

Kobayashi, a nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i, serves as a U.S. magistrate judge for the District of Hawai‘i, a position she has held since 1999. Prior to her appointment, she was an associate attorney (1984-1991) and then partner and managing partner (1991-1999) with the Honolulu firm of Fujiyama, Duffy & Fujiyama. She received her J.D. in 1983 from Boston College School of Law and her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1979.

Chang, a nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, is an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago office.