If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. i 5 The Judiciary ~ State of Hawaii Annu~l Report~) ~/ " " f"'"'' July 1, 19~(jj.oJune30, 1987 ••<:, ••:<.>, '~CJ __rl,--- ~C'F"'R. <:.:"1.-1.)(..1, .:.,E"'O '_'PEc..-;,. ~~ ~~.! U.S. Department of Justice 109520 National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the person or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has been granted by State of Hawaii Judiciary to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis­ sion of the copyright owner -~--~----~'~~~-"~~----~------------"""'''''-- Hawaii's Administrative '0 Organizational Cbart ,_, d " n , " Chief Justice Supreme Court II ) '.' Intermediate Chief Clerk r--- Court Supreme Court of Appeals J Circuit Courts State Firsl Judicial Circuit 17 Divisions Law Library I--- I-- Second Judicial Circuit 3 Divisions System Third Judicial Circuit 3 Divisions Office of the Fifth Judicial Circuit I Division Administrative Director - of the Courts I-- Director The Administrative Land Court Director Services r--- r-- Statewide Program J ,'.' Driver Tax Court Education r-- r--- Statewide Program G Deputy Director District Courts First Judicial Circuit 14 Divisions State I..,-- I-- Second Judicial Circuit 3 Divisions Sheriff Third Judicial Circuit 3 Divisions Fifth Judicial Circuit 2 Divisions Traffic Violations I-- Bureau Appointed Boards, Councils aud Commissions attached to the Judiciary Judicial Selection Board of Commission on Disciplinary Board Judicial Council Commission Examiners Judicial Discipline of the Supreme Court Serves as an Makes recommendations Administers Investigates Investigates advisory body to for judgeships and examinations for complaints complaints the Judiciary. reappoints judges. admission to the against judges. against attorneys. Hawaii State Bar. , i ~1tIb!!f~___ "-""_"'~-""~""''''''''''''''~ __ ''' __ '-''''''''''''''''..Ii...Jt..--...~~.a...~ .......,..-~...-~. ____ .;.I~- .... _........,.., __.............. ~ ........... ~_' ~. ~ ..........".,.;.......:.' __ ~~...c.' _____+.. "..... ~. _ _"_"".:tr_' III Hawaii's Judicial Organizational Chart Supreme Court Intermediate Court of Appeals - I I Tax Court Land Court I I District Courts Circuit Courts I Family Court A Division of Circuit Courts Hawaii's judicial system is organized into The Family Courts, established to deal two Jevels. The appellate level consists of exclusively with children and families, the Supreme Court and the Intermediate form II separate division of Court of Appeal~ (JCA). The trial level the Circuit Courts. consists of the Circuit Courts, the Family The District Courts are non-jury trial, Courts (a division of the Circuit Courts), courts with limited jurisdiction in civil the Oistrict Courts, and two specialized and criminal matters. District Courts have courts: the Land Court, which deals exclusive jurisdiction in petty and criminal primarily with registration oftitIe'for misdemeanors, traffic vioiations, and c fee simple land and easements; the Thx normally, civil cases involving sums of Appeal Court, whlch handles disputes less than $5,000. between the tax assessor and taxpayer. Direct lines of appeal extend to the' CIrcuit and District Courts share Supreme Court from all trial level courts. concurrent jurisdiction in civil matters , An assignment judge, appointed by the where the cOntested amount involves Chief Justice from among those who sit $5,000-$10,000. on the Supreme Court and the ICA bench, decides whether the Supreme Court or the ICA will review an appeal. The Circuit Court$ are courts of general jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters. Circuit Courts have exclusive jurisdiction in criminal felony cases, probate and guardianship cases, and civil cases involving sums of more than $10,000. All jury trials are held in Circuit Courts. - About the cover: During the renovation of historic Ali'iolani Hale, a workman installs continuous copper flashing on the slate roofing of the building to prevent water leakage onto a newly installed air-conditioning system. In the past year, the Hawaii State Judiciary has undertaken the initial steps in the rebuilding of its organizational structure, with th~ intention of preserving the spirit of the past while moving firmly and decisively into the future. I a CJSZO 11lble of Contents Executive Summary, Chief Justice Herman Lurn 2 Accomplishments, Fiscal Year 1986-87 4 " Alternative Dispute Resolution 6 • Renovation of Ali 'iolani Hale 8 • Research and Study for Renewal 10 The Judiciary 12 The Courts 22 Courts of Appeal 24 • The Supreme Court 25 .. The Intermediate Court of Appeals 25 Trial Courts 26 • Circuit Courts 28 .. Family Courts, a Division of the Circuit Courts 30 o District Courts 32 .. Specialized Courts: Land Court and Tax Appeal Court 33 The Support Services 34 Boards, Councils and Commissions 44 Court Financial Resources 50 i, - E __ ILL Executive Summary To the Honorable Members of the On-going programs did not go Fourteenth Legislature and the unnoticed. Each was examined in Public the context of viability and contin­ ued relevance to the survival of the I am pleased and privileged to trans­ Judiciary. For example, regarding mit herewith the Annual Report of the Alternative Dispute Resolution thE Hawaii State Judiciary, Fiscal Program, we began to decide Year 1986-1987 to you, the Mem­ whether or not its value warrants our bers of the XIVth Hawaii State total, pivotal resolution. Conse­ Legislature, 1988 Session and the quently, the Judiciary continued to People of Hawaii Nei. nurture the Alternative Dispute As I reflected on the twelve Resolution Program so that its montps covered by this Annual successes in problem 30lving Report, I recalled certain senti­ naturally evolved outward. Hence, ments I expressed to the Hawaii the Center for International State Bar Association-that Fiscal Commercial Dispute Resolution Year 1986-87 had been an impor­ (CICDR) was formed, an tant year for the courts, one of re­ organization established to address form and rebuilding, of intensive international commercial and trade and thoughtful planning and team disputes and to further Hawaii's building, and of laying a foundation own regional opportunities by to take us into the 1990s and be­ providing such services. yond. At the same time, the year was This year, we opted to form a distinguished by considerable pro­ Task Force to evaluate the Capital gress made without fanfare. In fact, Improvement needs of the Judiciary we addressed problems with dedi­ in terms of immediate, intermedi­ cation and skillfully managed their ate, and long-term perspectives. Al­ resolution; perhaps an applicable though time-consuming, we felt this commentary is that we sustained approach would provide a blueprint a record of quiet but solid achieve­ to help us answer questions regard­ ment. ing what the courtrooms of the Throughout fiscal year 1986-87, future should look like; whether we continued to consider new ideas, they should be fixed or mobile; and approaches, technologies and how technological changes will af­ processes which would enable the fect the cost as well as the concept judiciary to effectively serve a of court facility for adjudicatory multi-faceted society. We also purposes. assessed existing Judiciary pro­ Simultaneously, we are very grams to ascertain and determine pleased with the steady pace in the their relevance to the contemporary renovation of Ali'iolani Hale. Phase realities as well as their potential re­ I is expected to be completed before sponse to future change. This, in the end of January 1988 with Phase turn, manifested the starting of a se­ II and Ill's anticipated completion ries of studies wherein we examine in 1989. It seems significant that the our organization, structure, pro­ grams and processes as well as a strategic plan. 2 principal building of the Hawaii cisms which can affect morale and State Judiciary, i.e. Ali'iolani Hale, e The District Court of Honolulu productivity, but llave continued to is being renovated as the Judiciary has initiated an experiment in the perform with diligence. goes through an organizational re­ use of night court as a public service In closing, we seek a steady, building and operational reforms. to handle traffic violation strong Judiciary to serve the people Interestingly, our plans call for arraignments and pleas. The first of Hawaii now and through the 21st major operational changes to be in rural night court session has been Century. We intend it to be pro­ place by 1989-at the same time started at the Kaneohe District grammatically and operationally that Ali'iolani Hale completes its Court. solid so that the Judiciary is fully final stages of renovation. You will Q Despite and perhaps partially due responsive to the public as an notice that the pictorial motif of to the excessive workloads being adjudicatory institution which the renovation and renewal of experienced by the Family Court, metes out justice with integrity Ali'iolani Hale throughout this there have been efforts to manage and compassion; which inspires document parallels the reform and relatively easy legal activities such confidence and trust; and pursues rebuilding thrust of the Judiciary in as the uncontested divorce case.