HONOLULU -- The Hawaii State Bar Association is supporting Gov. Linda Lingle's nomination of Justice Mark Recktenwald to Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

The group's board of directors met with Recktenwald on Monday.

They said he is qualified to succeed Chief Justice Ronald Moon who steps down next week.

Earlier this month, the bar found Lingle's first nominee, appeals court Judge Katherine Leonard, to be unqualified.

The state Senate later rejected Leonard's nomination.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee is set to discuss Recktenwald's nomination on Wednesday.

The committee will make its recommendation Sept. 1 -- the day before the Senate votes.