Robert W.B. Chang,
hard-nosed judge, dies

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Retired Circuit Judge Robert Won Bae Chang, a hard-nosed, colorful jurist who ran a shipshape courtroom in dealing with a number of high-profile cases, died Thursday in Kaiser Hospital. He was 76.

One of the most celebrated cases he presided over was the 1973 Liberty House robbery trial, in which five of seven defendants were convicted. The value of jewelry stolen in the robbery was set at $300,000 retail value or $150,000 wholesale value.

One defense attorney, Matthew Pyun, who clashed repeatedly with Chang, said, "I'm sorry that he passed away. It's a big loss to the judiciary and legal community. He and I -- we kind of had some vigorous disagreements when we were in court -- and you know, I've always had the utmost respect for Judge Chang."

His son, Gary Won Bae Chang, was recently sworn in as a Circuit Court judge.

Chang was born in Honolulu, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1941. After 1941-42 Hawaii National Guard service, he served as an active duty Army infantryman from 1942-45, taking part in the fighting in Europe.

His postwar life included earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii in 1951 and a law degree from Boston University in 1954. In addition to his private law practice here from 1956 to 1968, he also served as a member of the territorial House in 1958-59 and as a state representative from 1959-64. He was a 1968-71 District Court judge and Circuit Court judge from 1971 until his 1987 retirement.

Chang's civic duties included two years as president of the board of directors of Palama Settlement in his 1961-68 board membership there and 1961-66 membership on the board of Kalihi YMCA.

Chang also is survived by wife Elsie; daughter Kathleen Uchida; sister Ellen Burley; brother Jonah; and five grandchildren.