LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar is stepping down in September after nine years in office.
Kollar announced the departure earlier this week, stating that he will move to the Bay Area to begin work as chief of staff for Fair and Just Prosecution, a nonprofit dedicated to justice reform.
“I’ll be working alongside a growing team of brilliant people who are working hard to help newly elected prosecutors across the country fight for fairness and justice through leadership and innovation,” Kollar wrote on Wednesday in a series of tweets announcing his resignation.
Kollar was first elected prosecutor in 2012, having previously served as a deputy county attorney, a deputy prosecuting attorney and law clerk for the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals.
“I am so proud of the team we’ve built and all that we’ve accomplished on Kaua‘i in creating a criminal legal system that protects our community and keeps us safe, while also moving away from the failed mass-incarceration policies of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Kollar wrote.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like will take Kollar’s place in September, pending a special primary election to be held within 45 days of Kollar’s departure. A special general election to fill Kollar’s vacancy will occur 30 days after the primary, as per the county charter.
“Rebecca has been an essential part of our leadership team since the day I took office. I have complete and total confidence that she will continue exemplifying the vision and ideals we’ve articulated for our team,” Kollar wrote.
“This is not farewell. I’ll still be here into September. As always, I remain eternally grateful for the trust and support this community has placed in me. Mahalo nui loa.”
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Scott Yunker, general assignment reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
With the current administration there is more money in non profits.
Mr Kollar is a very bright man to move his family away from the Hawai’ian Kingdom…. but he will still be held accountable for participating in war crimes instead of resigning years ago when he first became aware of the fact that the usa has no treaty of annexation with the Hawai’i Independent government.
Stop the facade now!!!!
Education is key to Peace on earth and anyone who denies the tragedy of the unlawful occupation on Indigenous people and the intentional infliction of cultural genocide by colonialism and fascist ideology is the enemy of the good in the world….. read, resist and reform!
HAWAIIANKINGDOM.ORG
“… intentional infliction of cultural genocide by” the Tahitian explorers against the Marquesans living on the Hawaiian islands?
Maybe the, you know, the ex-prosecutor who was doin the Nasty with her fellow council member we, will run again!
Both the former councils should be in jail for the murder of Aurero Moore.
“Group of brilliant people” must not be that smart if they hiring him.