New Appeals Court Candidate Is Senior Prosecutor And Professor Of Hawaiian Studies

Sonja McCullen, deputy prosecutor for Honolulu who previously taught social sciences, Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language at Waianae High School, was appointed by Governor David Ige to the Intermediate Court of Appeal following the failure of the appointment of Daniel Gluck to the ICA.

Gluck, executive director / general counsel of the State Ethics Commission and former chief legal officer of the ACLU of Hawaii, had by far the least experience before the CIA or the Supreme Court of Hawaii than the five other people originally considered by Ige, including McCullen.

Gluck withdrew his appointment amid calls for greater ethnic and gender representation in Hawaii’s highest courts after the state Senate Judiciary Committee failed to back his appointment last month. The full Senate then rejected Gluck’s nomination by a 17-6 vote.

In appointing McCullen to the CIA, Ige appears to have heard concerns about Gluck’s appointment, but did not address them in a statement today.

“Sonja McCullen has the legal skills, knowledge and temperament to serve the people of Hawaii on the Intermediate Court of Appeals,” Ige said in a statement.

McCullen said via Ige’s office in a statement:

“It is with great honor and humility that I receive Governor Ige’s appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeal,” she said. “From the beginning of my teaching career at Waianae High School until my ten plus years working in the appeals division of the Honolulu City and County District Attorney’s Department, I have dedicated myself to public service. . If the Senate confirms it, I will continue to work my best in this new role, with the same spirit of public service and aloha for Hawaii and all of its people. “

For nearly five years at Waianae High School, Ige’s office said McCullen had created a curriculum and taught classes that perpetuated Hawaiian culture “for the next generation.”

McCullen received a BA in Liberal and Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well as a Professional Diploma in Secondary Education. She received her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH.

McCullen worked for the prosecutor’s office for almost 11 years, most recently in the Appeal Division, and previously worked as an investigator for the Crime Victims Commission; as a staff lawyer for the United Public Workers union; as a Judicial Training Specialist for the State of Hawaii Justice System and Law Clerk for Deputy Supreme Court Justice Paula A. Nakayama.

If confirmed by the state Senate, McCullen would replace Associate Judge Derrick HM Chan who retired from the Intermediate Court of Appeals in October.

Crystal Glendon, a trial attorney from Hawaii, said she and other women in Hawaii’s legal community had come out of their comfort level by testifying against Gluck’s appointment.

Glendon said Ige listened to criticism of Gluck’s appointment and applauded Ige’s selection of McCullen, with whom she went to UH law school. Unlike Gluck, McCullen also has considerable experience working on appeal cases.

“He heard us 100%,” said Glendon. “No. 1, she is extremely and incredibly skilled. I would say it is important that she brings a diverse perspective to the bench and has experience in appeals and educating the Hawaiian people that i enjoy, as a native hawaiian practitioner and native hawaiian she brings a wealth of information from her own personal experiences i also believe she will be fair in law enforcement.

While Glendon felt uncomfortable testifying against an ICA candidate, Glendon said Ige’s appointment of McCullen was worth it.

“I’m glad he heard us,” said Glendon. “I stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves. I would do it again in a heartbeat. “