I’ve put off posting this for a while, but it now feels like the right time.
Back in May, Chuck Hurd — an old mentor and colleague — passed away. When I was fresh out of law school, Chuck (known as “CHH” to us in the firm) was one of the first experienced lawyers to take me under his wing and offer the guidance that was sorely needed as I flailed about in court and on paper. His mentoring and friendship was one of the primary reasons I joined my firm. He was at the time a “courtroom warrior,” but as his obituary notes, he evolved to “peacemaker,” and devoted his energies to resolving problems as a mediator.
Although eventually he departed the firm to set up his own shop, we kept in touch over the years. To my regret, not as formally as we should have, but when we’d see each other at Bar events or even just passing on a downtown street, it was an instant renewal — as if we still practiced together, and the years had not intervened.
So it was when Chuck last stopped by my office. We were in the middle of a federal court lawsuit challenging Hawaii’s reapportionment plan as unconstitutional, a case I have posted about here many times. Chuck had successfully challenged Hawaii’s reapportionment plan nearly two decades before, and dropped in to talk shop and check on our progress and to see if he could offer anything. He did: we spent the better part of the next two hours in Socratic dialogue testing arguments and theories, playing Devil’s advocate, identifying the strong and weak points of the case.
I didn’t know at the time that when we had analyzed the issues to our satisfaction and we shook hands and said our goodbyes, that it would the last time we would do so.
So when news came that Chuck had died, it was quite a shock. I wanted to post a note, if only to publicly say thank you and acknowledge Chuck’s role in my life. But I held off, wanting some time for the news to circulate, and my thoughts to coalesce. And then life and cases and other things took over, as they often do, and months had passed.
So thank you, CHH. You’re part of the reason I am here, doing what I do, and I am grateful.
The Mediation Center of the Pacific has posted a note on its website about Chuck, also.