2023 Jurist of the Year and Judiciary Employees Honored

Posted on Sep 29, 2023 in Featured News, News & Reports, Uncategorized

HONOLULU – Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi island) Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim was presented with the 2023 Jurist of the Year Award by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald at the Judiciary’s Statewide Employee Awards Ceremony on September 29.

“Judge Kim was appointed to the bench in 2017 and began serving as Chief Judge in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic,” said Chief Justice Recktenwald. “Chief Judge Kim did an exceptional job addressing the challenges brought on by the pandemic, especially with the serious staffing shortage the Third Circuit faced and the temporary closure of the South Kohala Courthouse, working through the myriad of challenges to reopen it and be fully operational. He became the Third Circuitʻs “MacGuyver,” innovating ways to keep the work of the courts going, and ensuring that services to the Big Island community were not compromised. He has maintained excellent communications with the Big Island bar, and has convened meetings on pressing challenges such as mentally ill individuals in the criminal justice system. He consistently demonstrates an abundance of aloha, and immediately offered resources and suggestions to support our Maui ‘ohana following the wildfires.

Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim is congratulated by Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (left) and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald (right) on being named the 2023 Jurist of the Year.

“He has been forthright in publicly addressing challenges in the criminal justice system, thereby heightening the trust and confidence the public has in our government.”

Click here to view Chief Judge Kim’s Jurist of the Year proclamation.

The Jurist of the Year is selected annually by the Chief Justice from nominations submitted by Hawaiʻi attorneys and Judiciary personnel. The award recognizes a full-time trial judge who exhibits exceptional judicial competence, evidenced by decisional quality; significant extra-judicial contributions to the administration of justice; and active participation in public service to the community at large.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Program Administrator Johanna K. Chock-Tam in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Program Administrator Johanna K. Chock-Tam opened the ceremony with a Hawaiian oli.

In addition to honoring the Jurist of the Year, the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary presented individual and group awards to employees who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and accomplishments. The recipients of this year’s awards are:

Distinguished Service Award (the Judiciary’s highest employee award): Curt Shibata, Supreme Court Operations Officer / Bailiff.

Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile, Supreme Court Operations Officer / Bailiff Curt Shibata, and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Supreme Court Operations Officer / Bailiff Curt Shibata (center) receives the Distinguished Service Award from Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (left) and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (right), recognizing his many outstanding contributions to the State Judiciary and the people of Hawai‘i.

Meritorious Service Award: Lisa Kimura, Court Documents Supervisor, Fifth Circuit (Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau) Legal Documents.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Fifth Circuit Court Documents Supervisor Lisa Kimura, and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Fifth Circuit Court Documents Supervisor Lisa Kimura (center) accepts the 2023 Meritorious Service Award from Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile, who praised her important contributions to public service.

Group Meritorious Service Award: First Circuit (Oʻahu) Truancy Court & Early Education Intervention Program: Social Workers Anthony Cannon, Garrett Alcott, Letty Di Lillo, Billie Reeves, Blaine Tomita, Roberta Uemura.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Anthony Cannon, Letty Di Lillo, Garrett Alcott, Billie Reeves, Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile, and Roberta Uemura in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (left) and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (second from right) present the 2023 Group Meritorious Service Award to (from left) Anthony Cannon, Letty Di Lillo, Garrett Alcott, Billie Reeves, and Roberta Uemura of the the First Circuit Truancy Court & Early Education Intervention team.

Spirit of the Judiciary Award: Armon Tavares, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Maui Drug Court, Second Circuit (Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i); and Donna Miura, Human Resources Technician, Third Circuit Administration.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Maui Drug Court Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Armon Tavares, and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Maui Drug Court Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Armon Tavares is recognized with the Spirit of the Judiciary Award by Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (left) and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (right).

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Third Circuit Human Resources Technician Donna Miura, and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Third Circuit Human Resources Technician Donna Miura receives the Spirit of the Judiciary Award from Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (left) and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (right).

Certificate of Commendation: Grayson Hashida, Drug Court Coordinator, Big Island Drug Court, Third Circuit; and Jesse De Rego, Groundskeeper, Second Circuit Facilities Management Branch.

Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim, Big Island Drug Court Coordinator Grayson Hashida, and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Big Island Drug Court Coordinator Grayson Hashida is congratulated by Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim (left) and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald (right) on his selection for the Judiciary’s Certificate of Commendation.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Second Circuit Facilities Management Groundskeeper Jesse De Rego, and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Second Circuit Facilities Management Groundskeeper Jesse De Rego is recognized with the Judiciary’s Certificate of Commendation by Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (left) and Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (right).

Group Certificate of Commendation: Hilo Legal Documents Branch, Third Circuit: Circuit Court Clerks Leone Ausage Kahihikolo, Kiara Goo, Traci Kanaeholo, Malie Ma‘i‘i, Kellie Nagai, Cindy Ohigashi, Byron Poy, Morgan Rogers, Joyce Rosal, and Katrina Yogi. District Court Clerks Mona Daniels, Tumamaopavaiai Enos-Godinez, Troy Kahai, and Kiralee Ma-e.

Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile, Hilo Legal Documents Branch representative Traci Kanaeholo, and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Traci Kanaeholo accepts the Group Certificate of Commendation on behalf of the Hilo Legal Documents Branch. Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (left) and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (right) thanked the entire team for their many contributions.

Award for Suggestions: Ernest De Lima, Second Circuit Deputy Chief Court Administrator; and Jennifer Ueki, Human Resources Manager, Judiciary Administration.

Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile, Human Resources Manager Jennifer Ueki, Second Circuit Deputy Chief Court Administrator Ernest De Lima, and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.in front of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court courtroom bench, 09/29/2023.

Human Resources Manager Jennifer Ueki and Second Circuit Deputy Chief Court Administrator Ernest De Lima were selected to receive the 2023 Award for Suggestions, which was presented by Administrative Director of the Courts Rodney Maile (left) and Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (right).