LIHU‘E — Edmund Acoba has become the newest judge to serve in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit on Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald administered the oath of office before an audience which overflowed the courtroom
LIHU‘E — Edmund Acoba has become the newest judge to serve in the District Court of the Fifth Circuit on Kaua‘i.
Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald administered the oath of office before an audience which overflowed the courtroom Friday afternoon.
Sitting with Recktenwald were Kaua‘i Judges Randal Valenciano, Kathleen Watanabe and Trudy Senda. Acoba’s family, including his son who flew in from Oregon and a sister who came from Florida, occupied the seats of honor in the jury box while the chief justice presided over the investiture.
Acoba will be replacing retired Judge Calvin Murashige in the Family Court.
Recktenwald commented on Acoba’s qualifications for the position based on his extensive background with youth and his skill and experience within the courts as exemplified in numerous letters of recommendation. Acoba was Recktenwald’s first selection after becoming chief justice.
The Honorable George Masuoka, representing the Judicial Selection Committee, extracted laughter from the otherwise solemn procedure.
“I’m going to keep you folks in Lihu‘e for as long as I can so you won’t be able to make the Blue and White game,” Masuoka said in offering the congratulations of the Selection Committee.
Louise Ing, president of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, was introduced by Justin Kollar, president of the Kaua‘i Bar Association.
State Rep. James Tokioka, D-15th District, expressed Sen. Ron Kouchi’s regrets at being unable to be present, and spoke of the days of growing up with Acoba on the football fields.
In response, Acoba talked about the difficult road to confirmation. Exhausted on O‘ahu, Acoba said it was Tokioka who sought him out, brought him to his office, fed him and allowed him to watch television.
On his path to becoming a judge, Acoba recounted the days following his taking the Bar examination.
“In those days, you did not want to get the telephone call because that was how they told you you failed,” he said. “I used to ride my bicycle just so I wouldn’t get the call.”
Acoba said after checking with someone who clerked at the office, he was told, “Congratulations, counselor!” sending him back on his bicycle to visit his dad, Federico, who was a mechanic for the plantation.
“You know how noisy those places are,” Acoba said, mimicking the sounds of pneumatic equipment. “I told him, ‘I’m going to be a lawyer.’”
Acoba said his father looked at him with a big grin and tears rolling down his cheeks.
That was the same grin Federico bore when Edmund told him of the Senate confirmation for the judge’s position.
Along with the smile came the comment from his dad: “What I going call you now?”
Valenciano was thrilled with the selection, noting that all four judges are graduates of Kaua‘i’s public high schools.
“We now have two from Waimea High School, one each from Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a,” Valenciano said. “The next one may just come from Island School.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
