William S. Richardson
| William Shaw Richardson | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 2, 1962 – December 2, 1966 |
|
| Governor | John A. Burns |
| Preceded by | James Kealoha |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Gill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1919 |
| Died | June 21, 2010 (aged 91) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Judge, Politician |
William Shaw Richardson (December 22, 1919 – June 21, 2010) was an American attorney, political figure, and chief justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court from 1966 to 1982.[1] Prior to his service as the top jurist in Hawaiʻi, Richardson was lieutenant governor under John A. Burns. Previous to that tenure from 1956 to 1962 he was chairman of the Hawaiʻi Democratic Party.
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[edit] Early years
Richardson claimed Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Caucasian ancestry.[2] He referred to himself as "just a local boy from Hawaiʻi." He was a graduate of Roosevelt High School, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and University of Cincinnati College of Law. Richardson served in World War II with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment as a platoon leader.[3]
[edit] Controversies
William S. Richardson's tenure as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Hawai'i was marked by landmark decisions that recognized the precedent of the state's unique cultural and legal history; specifically the public's interests in the environment, and the rights of the indigenous Hawai'ian people. Under Richardson, the court held that the public's interest in the natural environment may limit or prohibit commercial development of sensitive areas, particularly coastlines and beaches; that the public has right to access Hawai'i's beaches, and that land created by lava floes belonged to the state, not to nearby property owners. Richardson declared, "The western concept of exclusivity is not universally applicable in Hawai'i." When two sugar plantations each sought the right to a water source, Richardson cited precedent from the court of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, and declared that the water belonged to neither of them, but to the state. The Richardson court recognized previously ignored claims of the indigenous Hawaiian people (Native Hawaiians).
[edit] Legacy
Before his retirement from the bar, Richardson was memorialized with the naming of the state's only law school in his honor. The William S. Richardson School of Law was his crowning achievement, as he fought for its establishment for decades. Richardson, who is fondly referred to as "CJ" (for Chief Justice), was still involved with the development of the law school and regularly attended school functions up until his death in June 2010.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "About William S. Richardson". University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www.hawaii.edu/law/site-content/about-us/about-william-s-richardson/index.html. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- ^ MacKenzie, Melody Kapilialoha. "Director's Column: Honoring Chief Justice William S. Richardson". Ka Heʻe. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~nhlawctr/article2-1.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- ^ Michael Tsai (22 June 2010). "Justice 'gave life to Hawaiian law'". Honolulu Star Advertiser. http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100622_justice_gave_life_to_hawaiian_law.html. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
[edit] References
- "Hawaiʻi State Judiciary". Archived from the original on April 7, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070407091319/http://www.courts.state.hi.us/index.jsp. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- "William S. Richardson Law Library". http://library.law.hawaii.edu/. Retrieved 2007-05-13.[dead link]
- "Honolulu Star Advertiser". http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/Former_Chief_Justice_William_S_Richardson_dies.html. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Kealoha |
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii 1962–1966 |
Succeeded by Thomas Gill |
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