Karen S.S. Ahn
Karen S.S. Ahn was a judge for the O'ahu First Circuit of Hawaii, serving from 2000 to 2016. She retired from the bench in June 2016.[1][2][3]
Before becoming a circuit court judge, Ahn was a judge for the First Circuit District Court.[4]
Biography
Ahn earned a B.S. from Boston University and a J.D. from the University of Hawaii.[5]
Prior to her appointment as a circuit court judge, Ahn served as a First Circuit District Court judge for six years. Her professional experience also includes work in private practice, in the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, and as a special deputy attorney general for the Department of the Attorney General.[5]
Noteworthy cases
Judge declares mistrial in case of Special Agent Christopher Deedy
Judge Karen Ahn presided over the trial of Christopher Deedy, a special agent for the U.S. State Department who was charged with second-degree murder. He was accused of shooting Kollin Elderts in a McDonalds in Honolulu. Deedy was stationed there as part of security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. After the jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict, Ahn declared a mistrial on August 26, 2013.[6][7][8]
Some commentators argued that Deedy should have been charged with manslaughter. Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro explained that the second-degree murder charge was the most appropriate based on the evidence and that it was Judge Ahn's decision in the end. Ahn, during the trial, explained that there was no evidence to convict Deedy of reckless manslaughter, which left jurors with the options of murder or acquittal.[8]
On January 2, 2014, the Hawaii Supreme Court ordered Ahn to explain why she cleared the public, including the media, from the courtroom on the final day of the trial. This order came as the result of a complaint by news outlets trying to obtain the transcripts of the trial.[9] Ahn later explained that such private sessions are common to protect jurors' privacy and ensure a fair trial.[10]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ William S. Richardson School of Law, "Alumni Newsletter," June 1, 2000
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "GM 222," accessed February 13, 2017
- ↑ Maui Now, "Governor Appoints Three to First Circuit Court," February 9, 2017
- ↑ Star-Bulletin, "Cayetano Appoints Two to Judgeships on Kauai; Justice Moon Chooses One for Honolulu," July 29, 2000
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hawaii State Legislature, "Governor's Message," accessed February 13, 2017
- ↑ Fox News - Associated Press, "Judge declares mistrial in federal agent's Hawaii murder case," August 26, 2013
- ↑ KHON Channel 2, "Prosecution costs total more than $12K in Deedy murder trial," August 29, 2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Honolulu Civil Beat, "Honolulu Prosecutor: Deedy Will Face New Murder Charge," August 27, 2013
- ↑ Honolulu Civil Beat, "Hawaii Supreme Court Tells Deedy Judge To Defend Closed Proceedings," January 2, 2014
- ↑ Reporters Committee, "Judge unseals transcripts in Hawaii murder trial," March 3, 2014
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Hawaii • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Hawaii
State courts:
Hawaii Supreme Court • Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals • Hawaii Circuit Courts • Hawaii District Courts • Hawaii Family Courts
State resources:
Courts in Hawaii • Hawaii judicial elections • Judicial selection in Hawaii
