Judge Frances Q. F.

ByShane Kaneshiro

Judge Frances Q. F. Wong, Classof 1969 and Michelle H. Tucker,Classof 1972, wereinducted into theMcKinley High School Hall of Honor on Jan. 27 along with friends and family of theinducteesand with thestudent body in attendance. Edison Chong nominated both JudgeWong and Tucker for bringing honor to theschool and community through their achievementsand contributions.

During JudgeWong?stimeat McKinley, shefound that many of her teacherswerecommitted to their subject, teaching and engaging thestudents.

?They (teachers) gavemeagreat education. I thrived becauseI just loved learning and loved to wonder. I thrived becauseI had astrong family. I thrived with supportive friendsand I thrived becauseI waspart of theMcKinley Theater Group.?

After graduating from McKinley asavaledictorian in 1969, shewent to collegeat theUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa.

JudgeWong practiced asalawyer for fiveyears. ?I loved privatepractice, theway wedid it wassuch an adrenaline infused activity. You'realwayson and wehad really great corporateclients. So that wasalot of fun,?said Judge Wong.

However,shestruggled to balancework and family.

?[It] meant morethan 12 hour days. It meant that you didn't haveaweekend, it meant that you didn't have holidays. Wehad somereally tenseprojects,?said Judge Wong. ?I can't do this, I haveto raisethekids? it'snot the kind of mom I wanted to be.?

ThereforeJudgeWong needed to back off from such intensecases.At that time, shebegan branching out into smaller casesasa part timefamily court judge. A third of thetime, shewasin thecircuit jury criminal trial and the rest wasin family court.

?That madeit even more manageable,?said Judge Wong.

JudgeWong wasawarded theHawaii Women's Lawyers2002 Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award and TheHawaii StateBar Association?s2009 Presidential Award for Distinguished serviceand outstanding achievement that best exemplifiesthe mission of theHawaii State Bar Association.

In 2009, JudgeWong received theJurist of the Year award from Chief

JusticeRonald Moon.

Upon retirement, JudgeWong attended seminary and wasordained asaminister of theUnited Church of Christ. "Wecan respect each other. Bekind to each other" Judge Wong advised. "Celebrateyour timeat McKinley and celebratediversity.?

Through life'sstruggles, shegained experience, astrong family, and supportivefriends. JudgeWong said, ?It isthe stuff that helpsyou thrive; your family, closefriends, your faith, community.?JudgeWong also said, ?I haveagroup of friendsthat havebeen together sinceelementary school.Wearestill active; weareall 70.?

Michelle Tucker wasborn in Michigan.Her family later moved to Californiaand then to alittletown in