👨‍⚖️ Judge David Hayakawa is A-1 Bail Bonds' TOP GUN Award Winner for 2023

Howzit ya’ll, this is Nick with A-1 Bail Bonds. In this issue of jail mail, we’ll discuss:

• A-1 Bail Bonds’ TOP GUN award winner Judge David Hayakawa.

• The methodology behind how the Top Gun award is scored.

• Judge Hayakawa’s impact outside the court room.

A-1 Bail Bonds would like to congratulate Judge Hayakawa on earning the Top Gun award for 2023. Unlike many awards in the legal field, where political or financial favors are exchanged for recognition, I’ve engineered the Top Gun award to weigh only 3 factors:

1) Retainment on Hawaii's biggest criminal cases.
2) Successful outcomes for cases closed in 2023.
3) Social impact on the criminal justice system.

Attorney David Hayakawa, before his nomination and confirmation as a judge, had a distinguished career marked by significant victories in the courtroom. His most notable achievement in 2023 was winning the biggest criminal case of the year. In this high-profile case, the prosecution employed several legal but underhanded tactics that Mr. Hayakawa had to resolve long before his opportunity to defend his client at trial. For example, the prosecutor assigned to the case attempted to revoke Mr. Hayakawa’s client's previously posted $1 million bail, without any new charges, arrests, or violations to merit such an action. Additionally, the bail hearing in court had very little to do with the underwriting of risk and was instead leveraged to leak circumstantial evidence against Mr. Hayakawa’s client. Despite these challenges, Mr. Hayakawa used several creative legal strategies to negotiate concessions from the court and effectively balanced the protection of his client's liberties with the exaggerated, and in my opinion, imaginary threat of his client absconding or tampering with the case.

Hayakawa's prowess as a defense attorney was further demonstrated in the complex and emotionally charged trial. In this trial, Hayakawa meticulously challenged the prosecution's evidence, raising doubts about the reliability of DNA evidence and the surveillance footage linking his client to the crime scene. He also pointed out potential investigative oversights by the police and questioned the exclusion of other possible suspects. His defense strategy was instrumental in highlighting the weaknesses in the prosecution's case, leading to a hung jury and a mistrial.

Judge David Hayakawa's commitment to charity and community service distinguishes him as not just a winning attorney but a truly great person. His dedication extends over decades, significantly impacting various sectors of society. One of his most notable contributions has been his work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Early in his career, Judge Hayakawa organized events where proceeds were dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill children, reflecting his deep concern for the well-being of others, especially those in challenging circumstances.

In addition to his work with Make-A-Wish, Judge Hayakawa has played a pivotal role in the fundraising efforts for Rock4Justice. This initiative gathered sponsorships from private law firms and collected "suggested donations" at the door, with free admission for law students.

The funds raised are dedicated to placing students in summer internships focused on issues related to access to justice, including advocacy for people marginalized by poverty, language barriers, citizenship status, isolation, and discrimination.

Judge David Hayakawa's exemplary career in law and his profound commitment to philanthropy exemplify a rare combination of professional excellence and deep-rooted compassion. His contributions, both in the courtroom and through his charitable endeavors, have left an indelible mark on the community, setting a standard for both legal and humanitarian excellence. A-1 Bail Bonds once again congratulates Judge David Hayakawa on becoming 2023’s TOP GUN.

Be well ya’ll

-Nick