[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 91 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE RETIREMENT OF RONALD T.Y. MOON, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HAWAII STATE 
                             SUPREME COURT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2010

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hawaii 
Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon on his retirement. I know 
that I am not alone regretting that, due to Hawaii State law, he must 
retire from service on his 70th birthday this September. He will be 
missed.
  C.J. Moon, as he is affectionately known, has served as Chief Justice 
of the Hawaii Supreme Court for seventeen years. C.J. Moon also has the 
distinction of being the first Korean-American to become Chief Justice 
of any Supreme Court in the United States of America.
  As his time on the Hawaii Supreme Court bench comes to a close, it 
was interesting to learn that it was almost a fluke that C.J. Moon went 
into the field of law at all. He attended three different high schools 
in Hawaii and, apparently, took little interest in his studies. This 
attitude changed during his years at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
It was there that he met a cousin who was attending law school. Meeting 
this cousin, combined with Ron's experiences of racial discrimination, 
piqued his interest in the law.
  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology 
from Coe College. Ron then graduated from the University of Iowa School 
of Law in 1965 and returned to Honolulu to clerk for United States 
District Court Judge Martin Pence.
  His diligence on the job was evident even then. During his clerkship 
with Judge Pence, he once climbed into a trash bin outside the federal 
court building to look for a lost jury verdict form. The search was 
unsuccessful. He later learned that Judge Pence had another copy of the 
form in his office the whole time.
  In 1966, Ron joined the staff of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City 
and County of Honolulu, where he served as a deputy prosecutor until 
1968. He left public service to become a partner in the law firm 
Libkuman, Ventura, Moon, and Ayabe, where he stayed until 1982.
  It was from that firm that Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi appointed 
Ron Moon to the Hawaii State Judiciary as a Circuit Court Judge. He 
would serve in that position for eight years, earning the respect of 
attorneys, including myself, who came before him. He was particularly 
persuasive in getting plaintiff and defense attorneys to resolve cases 
fairly before trial.
  Governor John Waihee then elevated Ron to the office of Associate 
Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court in 1990. In 1993, he was 
elevated to the position of Chief Justice.
  As his retirement looms near, the people of Hawaii have begun to pay 
tribute to the incredible service of C.J. Moon. The County of Hawaii 
recently recognized May 7, 2010, as Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon Day. 
The Hawaii State Legislature has also recommended that the new Kapolei 
Court Complex be named after C.J. Moon, who spearheaded the project. 
The Hawaii Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Bar 
Association will celebrate the career of C.J. Moon on June 23, 2010.
  C.J. Moon has joked that he is ``looking forward to joining [his] 
fellow retired judges and other judiciary employees at [his] 
neighborhood McDonald's.'' It will be a retirement that has been well-
earned.
  Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much), C.J. Moon, for your many years 
of admirable stewardship of our system of courts and laws. I would also 
like to thank C.J. Moon's wife Stella and his family for sharing C.J. 
with us.

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