Chun appointed per diem judge

LIHUE — Lihue attorney Jonathan Chun is now a per diem judge for 5th Circuit District Court.

Chun was appointed by Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald. Part-time per diem judges are appointed to preside in district court and family court on an as-needed basis.

Chun’s previous work at the 5th Circuit includes appointed counsel to the grand jury. His per diem term will run through Jan. 12, 2015.

“Judge Chun is a great addition to the bench,” said Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit. “He has many years of legal experience accumulated through both private and public practice, and through community service. His community service work includes helping unrepresented parties at the Access to Justice Room and as a grand jury counsel.”

The Lihue native is a managing partner at Belles Graham Proudfoot Wilson & Chun, LLP. Prior to that he served as a Hawaii 7th District senator from 1998 through 2002.

Chun is a former first deputy county attorney for Kauai County from 1992-1998. He supervised litigation against the county and handled land use and zoning matters.

Chun has served as president of the Kauai Bar Association since 1992. He is also currently the chair of both the Kauai Workforce Investment Board and the State Rehabilitation Counsel.

He was previously the corporate counsel for the City and County of Honolulu from 1984-92. His first work out of law school was as an associate with White & Tom real estate and banking law firm from 1981-84.

Chun is a 1975 graduate of Kauai High School, and from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1978. He earned his Juris Doctorate in 1981 from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Wash.

This is the second District Court judge to be appointed to the 5th Circuit this month. Sara Lee Silvermann was sworn in on Jan. 12.