A public defender whose legal career include service with the Army in Afghanistan has been appointed as a Ventura County Court Commissioner.
Ventura Superior Court judges appointed R. Paul Kawai to the bench.
Kawai is currently a Senior Deputy Public Defender with Ventura County.
He was in private practice from 2001 to 2014.
Kawai is also a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Army Reserves, overseeing a team of 16 army lawyers who provide legal assistance and advice to service members. He served in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.
He’ll begin his new job as a Commissioner August 3rd. Commissioners hear matters ranging from criminal and traffic cases to family law.
