Walter Meheula Heen

Walter Meheula Heen (born 1928) is an American lawyer, politician and judge. He briefly served as judge on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii and trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Life

Heen was born in 1928 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Ernest Nalani and Jeannette Kahuoi (Hanapi) Heen. He attended the University of Hawaii where he received a B.A. in economics in 1953 and the Georgetown University Law Center where he graduated with a J.D. in 1955.

Highlights of his career include:

• Private practice, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955–1972
• Deputy city attorney, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1957–1958
• Member, Territorial House of Representatives, Hawaii, 1959
• Member, State House of Representatives, Hawaii, 1959–1964
• Member, Hawaii State Senate, 1966–1968
• Member, Honolulu City Council, Hawaii, 1969–1972, Chairman, 1969–1970
• Judge, Hawaii District Court, First Circuit, 1972–1974
• Judge, Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit,1974–1978
• U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, 1978–1980^[1]

Heen received a recess appointment from Jimmy Carter on January 1, 1981, to a seat vacated by Dick Yin Wong on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. He was nominated on January 8, 1981 but his service terminated on December 16, 1981, after nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate.^[2] He was appointed Associate judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals in 1982, serving until 1994.

He was elected in 2006 as a trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs representing Oʻahu. He ran for re-election in November 2010, but lost to Peter Apo.^[3]

References

External links

• JUDGE WALTER M. HEEN--A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT