Veteran judge leaves enduring legacy on Kauai
His accomplishments include the state's new $42 million courthouse in Lihue
LIHUE » The retirement of Kauai Circuit Judge George Masuoka at the end of the week is sure to leave unprepared lawyers across the state breathing a sigh of relief.
Masuoka, who has served 18 1/2 years as administrative judge on the Garden Island, expects lawyers to be prepared. He has been known to chastise and fine lawyers who do not meet his standards of respect for the law.
But his greatest legacy will likely be the new Kauai courthouse. The complex was completed last year, to the tune of $42 million, and incorporates the latest in technology.
Masuoka was "instrumental" in getting the complex built, said Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon, a close friend of Masuoka's.
"It took a lot of people," Masuoka said, but it's nice "to leave behind something permanent for the people of Kauai."
"I think, for myself as well as all members of the bar and the community, (we) can hardly begin to appreciate what Judge Masuoka has done," Moon added. "The guy's a model judge, as far as I'm concerned."
After a long career that stretches back to the Honolulu corporation counsel in the 1960s, Masuoka said he is ready to retire, to fish and help care for his grandchildren, a grandson who is a month old and a granddaughter who is 21 months old.
He would also like to spend time with his wife, Sharon. They have been married since 1966.
"I had an interesting judicial career, but you do get burned out," Masuoka said recently.
As the lone circuit judge for the first dozen years, Masuoka was responsible for both civil and criminal calendars, as well as family court for a time.
He has tried hundred, perhaps thousands, of cases, but, as far as Moon is concerned, his best gift might have been to keep cases off the trial calendar.
"He was a great settlement judge," Moon said, getting litigants to avoid trial and the added expense and injury to the parties.
Still, Masuoka was never one to shy away from controversy or spare feelings. He was not motivated by politics, either.
"He calls it like he sees it," Moon said.
Kauai attorney Warren Perry said while he might not always agree with Masuoka's methods and "his temperament," Masuoka was fair, and "he worked his butt off."
"If you had holes in your case," Perry said, "he would let you know."
Former colleague E. John McConnell said the hard exterior belied a softer inside.
"He has a keen sense of fairness," McConnell said. "He appeared to be a very tough guy, but he's also a very intelligent, compassionate person."
Walton Hong, who was Masuoka's law partner before he was appointed to the bench, said Masuoka "did not hesitate to correct people who came before him."
Masuoka said he was hard on lawyers because "I felt that the bar should meet a certain standard.
"People say that if you could practice in my court, you could practice (anywhere) in the state," Masuoka added.
He has also had a hand in training judges throughout the state as chairman of the Judicial Education Committee for the past dozen years.
As for what he will miss the most, Masuoka said it is the people he has worked with over the years, "my colleagues on the bench, the chief justice and his staff, and the (staff) here."
And, of course, he will miss the attorneys as well, he said.