Hawaii’s chief justice gets
second 10-year term

A judicial commission decides
Ronald Moon should be retained

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon has been retained for a second 10-year term, effective March 31, though he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 before his term runs out.

The Judicial Selection Commission issued its decision to retain Moon on Jan. 31 after reviewing, among other things, his legal ability, judicial demeanor and administrative leadership. He was also personally interviewed by the commission.

Moon could not be reached for comment.

His first term began March 31, 1993. Moon, 62, asked the commission in November to be retained. Under the state law, justices can serve until age 70, and Moon will reach that age before the end of the term.

Amy Agbayani, commission chairwoman, said the panel solicited and reviewed oral and written comments -- both positive and negative -- from a wide variety of sources, including practicing lawyers, the Attorney General's Office, police and community groups in reaching their decision.

"The committee looked at all the evidence and decided his leadership should continue until 2013," she said.

She said the commission would like to encourage Moon "to continue working with the public to make the Judiciary more transparent and more accessible, and listening to the bar and the general public on ways to improve the Judiciary."

The commission also decided to retain Associate Justice Paula Nakayama for a second term. Nakayama will serve from April 22 to April 21, 2013.

Nakayama could not be reached for comment.