Trial Experience
Federal criminal defense experience concentrating on drug offenses, white-collar and fraud offenses, crimes of violence, federal gun charges, computer crimes, grand jury representation, corporate and business defense, money laundering, and racketeering.
State criminal defense experience concentrating on murder, vehicular homicides, drug offenses, sex crimes, white-collar and fraud offenses, crimes of violence, and property crimes.
Military criminal defense experience concentrating on drug offenses, crimes of violence, sex crimes, theft, and fraud crimes.
Constitutional law background with a focus on constitutional amendments and rights as a defense to various criminal charges.
Credentials
Licensed since:
1981 Hawaii
1981 U.S. District Court District of Hawaii
1982 New Jersey
1982 U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
1982 U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
1985 U.S. Supreme Court
1993 U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
Degree Accreditation:
Educational Honors:
1980 Law Review: the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, Honolulu, Hawaii
Awards and Accolades
Professional Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Hawaii’s Best Lawyers, Honolulu Magazine 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 Hawaii Super Lawyers 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated for ethical standards and legal ability
Martindale-Hubbell Registry of Preeminent Lawyers 2003 to present
Outstanding Lawyers of America
Who’s Who in American Law, 2003 to present
State and Federal Government Task Forces, Commissions, and Committees
Chair: Judicial Selection Commission, State of Hawaii 1994 – 1995
Lawyer select: State Judicial Conference 1991 – 1994
Litigation committee: ACLU of Hawaii 2002 to 2019
Member: Lt. Governor’s Hawaii Drug Control Strategy Task Force, 2004 to present
Member: Task Force on Charging Procedures, Twenty-First Legislature 2003
Member: Hawaii Supreme Court Permanent Committee on Rules of Penal Procedure and Circuit Court Criminal Rules
Member: Act 59 Task Force to Consider Proposals to Revise Hawaii’s Community Notification or “Megan’s Law” 2003 – 2004
Attendee: United States Courts Judicial Conference, 2004 – 2005, 2014.
Television Appearances
Legal Television Commentator: Hawaii News Now, KHNL News; KHON News; KITV Channel 4
Pro Bono Activities
Delegate: Hawaii Democratic Party State Convention 1988 – 2008
Former Legal Redress Officer: NAACP Hawaii Chapter
Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Coach of the Year: Wrestling 1990 – 1991
Litigation Committee Member: ACLU of Hawaii
Past President and Founding Member: Afro-American Lawyers Association
President of the Board: Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline 1991 – 1992
Professional Associations and Memberships
Leadership Positions
Board of Governors: The Association of Plaintiffs Lawyers of Hawaii 1989 – 1990
Bencher: American Inns of Court IV, Hawaii
Executive Committee: International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi – Richardson Inn 1979 – 1981
Professional Memberships
Hawaii State Bar Association 1981 to present
New Jersey State Bar Association 1982 to present
Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NACDL”), Life member
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
The Association of Plaintiffs Lawyers of Hawaii 1989 – 1990
American Bar Association American Society of Law and Medicine
Community Associations and Memberships
Lecturing Activities
Adjunct professor: “Hawaii Innocence Project,” the University of Hawaii at Manoa, William S. Richardson School of Law
Faculty member: National Institute of Trial Advocates (“NITA”)
Faculty Member, Department of Land & Natural Resources (“DLNR”) Police Academy
Faculty member: National Business Institute Legal Seminars
Lecturer: Trial Advocacy Program, Public Defender State of Hawaii
Peoples Law School: American Trial Lawyers Association
Fraternities/Sororities
Phi Delta Phi
Christian Legal Society
