Judge Ronald Johnson is DEAD 👼☠️

The Return of Stability: Why Judge Ronald Johnson Matters More Than Ever

As the great Mark Twain once said, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." The same could be said—more aptly and significantly—for Judge Ronald Johnson. After just over two months of leave, Judge Johnson has returned to his role as Administrative Judge at the First Circuit Court of Honolulu. And for those of us in the trenches of Hawaii’s justice system, that return signals the end of a long stretch of uncertainty.

For years, I’ve said this: The Administrative Judge at Circuit Court is the second most important position in Hawaii’s judiciary, right after the Chief Justice. Bold statement? Maybe. But the past two months proved it.

Why the Admin Judge Matters

Very few advocates appreciate—or perhaps even know—that the Administrative Judge is often the first meaningful opportunity to request a bail reduction or supervised release. That window opens in the first 1–3 weeks of a felony case. And if bail hasn’t been posted, the Admin Judge’s decision can mean the difference between months in subhuman, overcrowded conditions at OCCC—or early freedom.

While groups like the ACLU rally against new jail construction with handmade signs, social justice chants, and enough virtue signaling to power a Prius—the blue-collar machinery of public safety grinds on, quietly and without fanfare. Judge Johnson, along with the Oahu Intake Service Center, are truly on the front lines: reviewing bail studies and making informed decisions to release, detain, or reduce bail.

These decisions unfold under intense pressure and in real time—often involving defendants who are uncooperative, facing serious charges, or burdened with a long and tangled record of prior convictions and contempt violations. Yet this is the gritty, thankless labor that forms the bedrock of our bail system.

Judge Johnson: The Ideal Bottleneck

Whether by design or luck, Judge Johnson wears two hats—Admin Judge and Grand Jury Judge. That means he often sees:

• The initial indictment,

• The bail set at the grand jury,

• The intake report,

• The defendant’s criminal history,

• Any concurrent pending cases.

Why We Need Stability

Judge Johnson brings consistency, perspective, and a deep understanding of the entire judicial pipeline—from grand jury indictment through concurrent case management. That kind of institutional memory is essential—especially in a system where paperwork errors, overlapping court dates, and complex in-custody logistics are the norm, not the exception.

My Final Thought

I write this as someone who advocates when appropriate, but practices daily. Judge Johnson’s return means we can all recalibrate. Bail reductions, SR decisions, travel permissions—there is now a reliable, experienced figure making those calls with access to the full context.

Welcome back, Judge Johnson. Now we can all get back to business.

-Got Bail Nick