A Kealakekua courtroom was packed with well-wishers Tuesday as a new judge took the oath of office. ADVERTISING A Kealakekua courtroom was packed with well-wishers Tuesday as a new judge took the oath of office. Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice
A Kealakekua courtroom was packed with well-wishers Tuesday as a new judge took the oath of office.
Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald administered the oath to Margaret Masunaga, a former Hawaii County deputy corporation counsel. Masunaga’s husband and daughters helped her into a black robe, the one she will don as Kona’s District Court judge.
Roughly 70 people attended the swearing-in ceremony honoring Masunaga on her appointment presiding over District Court, known as “The People’s Court.” Recktenwald said more people have contact with District Court than any other court. Masunaga will preside over criminal and civil cases, including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, as well as handle most traffic violations.
There’s a high volume of 100 cases or more each day, and many cases involve people representing themselves. Of the landlord-tenant claims filed last year throughout the state, in 96 percent of the cases at least one of the parties didn’t have an attorney, Recktenwald said. Besides Masunaga implementing the laws and helping the parties understand them, there are volunteer-staffed self-help centers for those needing assistance in navigating the complex judicial system, he added.
The ceremony marked a highlight of a law career that started 27 years ago for Masunaga. Becoming a judge was something she wanted at a young age. The internment of her parents during World War II provided a strong motivation to promote justice. Masunaga applied for a judgeship six times since 1994. Her tenacity and dream were realized Tuesday.
Masunaga said she was “honored” and “humbled” to be serving the community as a judge, and vowed to “work very, very hard.”
Controversy surrounded Masunaga during the nomination and confirmation process after the Hawaii State Bar Association deemed her unqualified to be a District Court judge. Questions surrounded her legal knowledge, professional experience and ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
Numerous public officials and residents rushed to her defense, saying Masunaga was not only fit for the bench, but also possessed a passion for the community, as evident by her volunteerism, leadership and tireless service. Those sentiments were echoed during Tuesday’s ceremony.
Recktenwald on Oct. 10 appointed Masunaga for the position left vacant when District Court Judge Joseph Florendo retired earlier this year. She was among the six finalists the judiciary named to replace Florendo, Hawaii Island’s longest-serving full-time judge. She became a district judge upon her confirmation Oct. 23 by the state Senate in a special session.
“Masunaga is noted to have the ability to carefully listen, to critically analyze and to effectively communicate ideas,” said Dr. Jackie Young of the Judicial Selection Commission. “She is known to work well with others and is always regarded as a leader. The commission believes her people skills and her legal skills in combination provides a solid foundation to become an excellent jurist.”
Third Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra talked about the Hawaii State Trial Judges Association and the support the state’s 12 judges provide.
“Judge Masunaga, you will soon discover the life of a judge can often be quite lonely and filled with questions. As a judge, you must be careful about who you associate with and whether that person has a case pending before you or whether that person wants your opinion as a judge on a community issue. Once you review the code of judicial conduct, you might ask yourself, ‘Who can I associate with, what can I still do or do I even have a First Amendment right,’” Ibarra said.”You might even find out being a judge is not without stress. At the end of the day, after hearing a tough case or dealing with a lengthy calendar, you may need to vent or even discuss a lengthy issue, you may have to ask yourself, ‘What do I do, what can I do or who do I talk to?’ These concerns can be discussed with your fellow judges of the trial judges association. We are all willing to help, whether it’s to discuss a legal issue or commensurate with you.”
