William S. Richardson

William S. Richardson, formally William Shaw Richardson (born 22 December 1919) is the former Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court. He served as Chief Justice from 1966 to 1982^[1]. Prior to his service as the top jurist in Hawaiʻi, Richardson was lieutenant governor under John A. Burns. Before that, he was chairman of the Hawaiʻi Democratic Party from 1956 to 1962.

Early years

Richardson claims Native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Caucasian ancestry^[2]. He has referred to himself as "just a local boy from Hawaiʻi." He is a graduate of Roosevelt High School, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and University of Cincinnati law school. Richardson served in World War II with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment.^[1]

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).

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), is still involved with the development of the law school and regularly attends school functions.

Notes

References

• "Hawaiʻi State Judiciary". 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. 

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