Attorney Christian "The Fixer" Enright

Aloha, Jail Mail readers. This week, we are stepping away from my usual judiciary rants to shine a spotlight on formidable defense counsel names in the state. When you or a loved one are facing high-stakes criminal allegations, navigating the legal system requires a powerhouse who understands its internal mechanics from the inside out. That brings us to this week's featured professional.

Featured Defender: Attorney Christian "The Fixer" Enright

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Christian Enright brings close to 20 years of elite legal experience to the table. His roots in the local community run deep: he is a graduate of Punahou School and received his Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Immediately after passing the bar, Christian joined the State Office of the Public Defender, where he spent over a decade establishing himself as one of the agency's top trial advocates. During his stellar public tenure, Christian was a relentless defender of the community, taking nearly 80 criminal cases to trial. His extensive trial resume includes some of the most complex and serious Class A felonies in the state, such as murder, robbery, and sexual assault.

Now in private practice, Christian specializes in handling serious, felony-level Family Court cases, including complex sexual assault allegations and felony domestic violence charges.

The Pre-Charging Window: Why Waiting for a Public Defender is a Trap

I recently caught up with Christian to discuss a massive structural blind spot that many defendants face: the critical window of time between an initial arrest and a formal charging decision.

I've seen this structural gap many times in my bail career, and it creates a dangerous, one-sided narrative during the police screening process. I see clients arrested and charged without even first speaking to an attorney or having the personal agency to rebut a complainant's emotionally charged statements.

"The public defenders in Hawaii are a fantastically capable and diligent bunch of advocates—the idea that private counsel is inherently 'better' is a complete myth," Enright shared. "But structurally, they don't enter the equation until a case is formally filed. You cannot secure or qualify for a public defender until weeks after your first appearance in court, and oftentimes, the highest criminal liability you face is actually pre-charging."

This structural gap creates a dangerous, one-sided narrative during the police screening process. When an arrest occurs, prosecutors routinely make high-stakes charging decisions.

I’ve personally noticed that in alleged domestic violence situations, where emotional, high-tension contexts often yield a wildly lopsided initial picture for the state. By the time a defendant is formally arraigned and a judge instructs them to see if they qualify for a public defender, the prosecution has already built its momentum.

Threading the Needle Early

The period between the initial arrest and the formal screening of the case is absolutely vital. Prosecutors are managing finite, heavily burdened resources; they do not want to invest their time into prosecuting an innocent person, and they are generally open to hearing "the other side" from an experienced attorney before moving forward with a case.

However, it is exceptionally difficult for a suspect to effectively deliver their version of events or present mitigating evidence to a prosecutor without counsel.

Having an experienced private attorney step into the gap during the screening phase allows a thorough investigation to be conducted before a permanent charging decision is locked in. While it does not guarantee charges won't be filed, it frequently results in prosecutors declining to pursue a case once the full truth comes to light. In a system where allegations of domestic violence can permanently ruin your personal and social reputation, getting out ahead of the narrative isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.

I've gotten to know Mr. Enright over the last few years, and he's one of the best at defending clients on both felony and misdemeanor-level domestic violence cases. His trial experience is well known within the Hawaiʻi judicial community, so he is never shy about taking a case to trial to clear a client's name. This is why I call him "The Fixer." Like "The Wolf" in Pulp Fiction, he has a knack for canvassing liability, then formulating a plan to get clients back on track.

So here's to you, Christian, "The Fixer" Enright. Your work has not been overlooked by me over the past few years, and as a second-generation bail agent, I can tell the real deal from fool's gold.

Stay safe out there, and see you next week.

- Jail Mail Nick