(BIVN) – Hawaiʻi County will have a new Corporation Counsel heading into the year 2025.

Mayor Kimo Alameda has appointed Renee Schoen as Corporation Counsel and J Yoshimoto as Assistant Corporation Counsel. The selections complete Alameda’s cabinet for the start of his first term in office.

From a County news release:

Schoen, who was recently a Third Circuit Court Judge, will lead the Office of Corporation Counsel starting Jan. 16. Current Corporation Counsel Elizabeth Strance will stay on until Dec. 31, with Yoshimoto serving as acting Corporation Counsel for the first two weeks of January.

“Renee Schoen is a great addition to our leadership team, and I look forward to her contributions and legal expertise in support of our entire County,” Alameda said. “I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has stepped forward to serve. With our cabinet in place, I am confident that each of our department administrators will work together to serve the people of Hawaiʻi Island with integrity and aloha.”

As the head of Corporation Counsel, Schoen’s appointment is subject to County Council review and approval.

The Office of Corporation Counsel is the legal advisor and legal representative of all County agencies, the County Council, and all officers and employees in matters related to their official powers and duties.

Renee Schoen

Renee Schoen recently served as a per diem Third Circuit District Court and Family Court Judge. A lawyer for more than 30 years, she was previously Assistant Corporation Counsel for the County from 2017-2021 and Deputy Corporation Counsel from 2007-2016. Additionally, Schoen was a private practice attorney and Deputy Attorney General for the state of Hawaiʻi.

J Yoshimoto

J Yoshimoto has been practicing law for more than 30 years in Hawai’i. He joined the Office of Corporation Counsel as a Deputy in 2014 and was appointed as Assistant Corporation Counsel in 2021. Yoshimoto served on the County Council from 2006-2014 and was chairman twice. Prior to the County, he was in private practice and served as a Deputy