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Supreme Court Convenes Special Session to Honor the late James S. Burns

Posted on Apr 13, 2017 in Featured News, News & Reports
Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Craig H. Nakamura at the Supreme Court podium. At the bench, Associate Justice Richard Pollack, Associate Justice Paula A. Nakayama, and Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald.

Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Craig H. Nakamura addresses those gathered to honor former Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge James S. Burns.  At the bench, Associate Justice Richard W. Pollack (left), Associate Justice Paula A. Nakayama, and Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald (right).

The Hawaii Supreme Court convened in special session on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, to honor the late James S. Burns, former Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Members of the public gathered in the Supreme Court courtroom at Aliʻiolani Hale to hear special guest speakers and current judges share their memories of Judge Burns.  The speakers talked about the lasting impact of Judge Burns’ many contributions on both the state of Hawaii and the people whose lives he touched.

Speakers in order of presentation were:  Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Craig H. Nakamura, the Honorable James S. Burns’ former law clerk Damien A. Elefante, American Judicature Society Vice-Chair Ivan M. Lui-Kwan, American Inn of Court IV James S. Burns Aloha Chapter President Gary W.B. Chang, Hawaii State Trial Judges Association President Jeannette H. Castagnetti, Hawaii State Bar Association President Nadine Y. Ando, William S. Richardson School of Law Associate Dean Ronette M. Kawakami, Governor David Y. Ige’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, and Mrs. Emme Tomimbang Burns with Mr. Brendan Burns on behalf of the Burns Family.