HONOLULU — Barbara Richardson, deputy chief judge of the First Circuit District Court, was named the 2012 Jurist of the Year. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald presented Richardson with the honor during a Tuesday ceremony at the State
HONOLULU — Barbara Richardson, deputy chief judge of the First Circuit District Court, was named the 2012 Jurist of the Year.
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald presented Richardson with the honor during a Tuesday ceremony at the State Supreme Court.
“Judge Richardson is a strong leader with a collaborative and inclusive style,” Recktenwald said. “She is a gracious and supportive colleague, who was recognized by her peers when she was elected President of the Hawai‘i State Trial Judges Association, and her leadership and vision continue to inspire Hawai‘i’s legal community.”
The Jurist of the Year is selected for 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.
Richardson was first appointed to the bench as a full-time district court judge in 2000. She recently collaborated with the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, Hawai‘i Access to Justice Commission and the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i to have volunteer attorneys and AmeriCorps representatives available two days a week at an “Access to Justice Room” located in the Honolulu District Court courthouse.
The volunteer attorneys provide short-term legal advice to underrepresented parties involved in landlord tenant cases, collection cases and temporary restraining order cases.
Richardson helped to implement the Hawai‘i Court Records Rules and the JIMS District Court Criminal project. It eases filing and access to misdemeanor case documents electronically.
The ceremony also served to honor other justices and Judiciary officials and employees for outstanding service or for achieving a benchmark number of years employed in public service.
