ATTORNEY GENERAL NAMES FIRST DEPUTY AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT

News Release from Office of the Attorney General, April 11, 2018

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Russell A. Suzuki announces the appointment of Dana O. Viola as the First Deputy Attorney General and James W. Walther as the Special Assistant to the Attorney General. Suzuki was recently appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate on March 29, 2018.

First Deputy Attorney General Dana Viola has over 25 years of experience, the majority of which she has spent in government service with the Department of the Attorney General and the City and County of Honolulu Corporation Counsel. Her focus has been on environmental law, representing the State Department of Health’s Environmental Management Division and the County’s Department of Environmental Services. She also served as the Special Assistant to three Attorneys General.

Special Assistant James Walther has served as a Deputy Attorney General since 1997, starting with the Family Law Division representing the State in child protective services cases. More recently he was assigned to the Health and Human Services Division advising the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health on various programs such as TANF, child care, and medical cannabis. He also worked the past several years with the prior Special Assistants on media activities, legislative matters, and special projects.

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