[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 117 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING ``CJ'' WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of my 
friend, a consummate civil servant and respected legal mind, ``CJ'' 
William S. Richardson.
  Bill Richardson was born into a working class family of mixed ethnic 
heritage representative of Hawaii's community. He was part Native 
Hawaiian, part Chinese, and part Caucasian. From these humble 
beginnings, one of Hawaii's greatest figures emerged. Like many men in 
my generation, Bill fought in World War II, serving as a platoon leader 
for the U.S. Army; he would later be inducted into the Infantry Officer 
Candidate School Hall of Fame. This was just one of many achievements 
in a life filled with distinction: Bill served as chairman of Hawaii's 
Democratic Party from 1956 to 1962, providing strong advocacy for 
statehood, which Hawaii achieved in 1959. From 1962 to 1966, he served 
as the State's Lieutenant Governor. In 1966, Bill became the first 
Native Hawaiian to serve as Chief Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme 
Court. As ``CJ,'' he deftly blended Hawaii's history and cultural 
practices with modern law, establishing a traditional Hawaiian 
understanding of water rights as the law of the land, and demanding 
public access to Hawaii's shoreline.
  Yet his dedication to Hawaii did not stop at writing landmark legal 
opinions that redefined the State. It was Bill Richardson who 
recognized the need to build a law school in Hawaii. He was dedicated 
to creating more, and better, educational and professional 
opportunities for Hawaii. In keeping with his personal and legal 
opinions, he remained focused on the need for such opportunities within 
Hawaii's most disadvantaged communities. With this vision, and by his 
perseverance, Bill worked with Hawaii's legislature to open Hawaii's 
first, and only, law school in 1973. The school, appropriately named 
the William S. Richardson School of Law after its greatest champion, 
has committed itself to educating attorneys from places as close as 
Honolulu and as far away as Thailand, with a clear focus on educating 
the Pacific's traditionally disadvantaged groups. The school continues 
to follow Bill's vision: to promote justice, ethical responsibility and 
public service. The law school was, perhaps, Bill's best and most 
profound achievement.
  Bill passed away on June 21, 2010, at the age of 90. Although I am 
saddened by my friend's passing, I am comforted by knowing that his 
legacy will live on through his family, his work, and the thousands of 
attorneys educated by the school bearing his name.

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