Retired justice Ramil served the ‘little guy’ in various state posts

Government officials and friends are mourning the death of retired Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Mario R. Ramil, who died of cancer Monday.

Ramil, 70, died at his home among family members.

“He was smart, honest,” former Gov. Ben Cayetano said. “He was a very decent human being.”

Ramil, who emigrated from the Philippines as a child, served on the Hawaii Supreme Court from 1993 to 2002 and was the second person of Filipino ancestry to serve as a Hawaii Supreme Court justice.

His close friend Robin Campaniano said Ramil wanted to show that he was competent in his various roles in public service and also serve as a role model.

“He set an example for youngsters in the Filipino community,” Campaniano said.

He said Ramil served as a mentor to many young attorneys and encouraged them to do great things for the state and Filipino community.

In 2014, the Filipino Community Center honored Ramil for his public service during its annual Bayanihan celebration.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald described Ramil as a warm, caring person, an outstanding justice and a true public servant who dedicated his life to serving the people of Hawaii.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Justice Ramil,” Recktenwald said. “Our sympathies go out to his wife Judy and their sons Jonathan and Bradley.”

Prior to becoming a justice, Ramil served in other public offices in Hawaii, including deputy attorney general, state insurance commissioner, and state labor department director.

“Justice Ramil served the people of Hawaii with distinction in a number of capacities over the course of two decades in public service,” Gov. David Ige said. “We will remember his many contributions to the people of our state and to the Filipino community in particular.”

Born on June 21, 1946, in Quezon City, Philippines, Ramil moved at age 10 with his family to San Francisco.

After earning a law degree from University of California Hastings College of the Law, he moved to Hawaii in 1975 and became a state deputy attorney general in 1976.

Friends say Ramil was a supporter of Gov. George Ariyoshi and organized coffee hours during Ari-yoshi’s run as governor.

Ramil was appointed as the state insurance commissioner and later as the state labor director.

Former Gov. John Waihee said he appointed Ramil first as the state labor director and then as a Supreme Court justice because of his great capacity for learning and growth and his empathy for the underprivileged.

“He was very pro-consumer, pro-people and pro-little-guy,” Waihee said.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Simeon Acoba said Ramil was a man with strong principles and an easy manner that made him well-liked by everyone.

Acoba said Ramil’s significant contributions came in the area of worker compensation and labor law, where he affirmed the right of collective bargaining.

Acoba said Ramil had a remarkable career, considering his start as an immigrant and his acquisition of English language skills to advance to among the highest legal positions in the state.

“That’s a lot to accomplish,” Acoba said.

“It really reflects on his intellect and his ability.”