Two Richardson Attorneys Appointed to the City & County of Honolulu’s Charter Commission

On March 24, 2025, two Richardson attorneys were sworn in as members of the City & County of Honolulu’s Charter Commission. Sommerset Yamamoto (’14) and Brandon Marc Higa (J.D. ’19, S.J.D. ’24) were appointed by City Council Chair Tommy Waters and Mayor Rick Blangiardi, respectively, to serve on the thirteen-member commission.

The Charter serves as the constitution for the City & County of Honolulu, and this Commission—convened once every ten years—is tasked with proposing amendments that can shape the future of city governance.

The 13-member commission, which officially convened on March 24, 2024, includes six appointees by the mayor, six by the City Council, and one jointly appointed by both. With their term running through the end of 2026, the commissioners will review the Revised City Charter of Honolulu and offer proposed amendments for voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

The presence of two Richardson attorneys on the Commission highlights the Richardson’s lasting impact on public service and policymaking. Yamamoto, a senior project manager at Kamehameha Schools, and Dr. Higa, a licensed attorney and lecturer at Richardson at various law schools in Japan, bring legal expertise and public service experience to the Commission’s work.

By serving on the Charter Commission, Yamamoto and Dr. Higa continue the Richardson tradition of civic engagement, ensuring that legal expertise informs decisions impacting Honolulu residents. Their appointments elevate Richardson’s visibility and reaffirm the law school’s commitment to civic engagement at the highest levels of public policy and governance in Hawai‘i.

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