If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. '. -'-1 -~ -.- " ---~--- -~-- Table of Con.tents To the Message from ChiefJustice William S. Richardson 1 Honorable Members Progress 1980-81: Groundbreaking, Highlighting Voluntarism, Pioneering 3 of the Eleventh I.: The Judiciary 11 Legislature The Courts 19 and the Public o Courts of Appeal 20 o The Supreme Court 22 o The Intermediate Court of Appeals 24 o Trial Courts 26 o Circuit Courts 27 o Family Courts, a Division of Circuit Court 29 o District Courts 30 In fiscal year 1980-81, we in the Judiciary saw progress in a number of areas. Our capital improvements program continues to ensure that physical facilities o Specialized Courts: Land Court and Tax Appeal Court 32 efficiently serve both clients and the general community. With groundbreaking for o Judicial Circuits 33 Kauikeaouli Hale and Kaahumanu Hale, w~ began construction of the future homes of the o First Judicial Circuit 33 Honolulu District Court and the First Circuit Court. We soon will begin upgrading, co Second Judicial Circuit 35 renovating, and building new facilities in some of the judicial circuits on the Neighbor Islands. o Third Judicial Circuit 36 Our program of extending staff services through the use of volunteers is another o Fifth Judicial Circuit 38 kind ofprogress in ourjudicial system. This program ensures that the relationship between The Support Services 41 court and client is marked by the kind of individualized caring that volunteers uniquely Boards, Councils and Commissions 49 bring to their work. A third major signpost of progress is adoption of a comprehensive planning system Statistical Data 55 by the Judiciary. Hawaii's planning system, a pioneering effort, helps to ensure that we take steps to gauge and meet the requirements plaeed upon the Judiciary by the changing times. Our new appellate level structure is showing continued progress in reducing case backlog. Hearings on the merits ofall criminal appeals are now considered current; delay in u.s. Department of Justice 8 2 6 7 8 National Institute of Justice hearing the merits of noncriminal appeals is substantially reduced. For the first time in d actly as received from the many years, the number ofprimary cases terminated on appeal exceeds the number ofcases This document has been repro d uce 7x. inions stated person or organization originating it. P~I~ts of vl~~~r ~~t necessarily filed during the same period. in this doctuhmenfjt. ~rel pt~~i~i~~~~hpeo~~eso~ ~hne National Institute of represent e 0 ICla Progress is measured in many different ways, and I am proud to report on the Justice. Judiciary's progress during the past fiscal year. Whether the measure is a defined capital Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has been improvements program, comprehensive planning efforts, quality ofjudicial services, or in granr~~ter E. cingcade statistical and human terms, the Judiciary has had a productive year. to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). With kindest regards and ~~ /.~~ Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis­ sion of the copyright owner. William S. Richardson ChiefJustice of Hawaii Progress 1980-81: Groundbreaking, Highlighting Vo)untfrism, . Pioneering The Judiciary State General Fund Appropriations by amount and percent of total, Fiscal Year July 1, 1980-June 30, 1981 Statewide Operations Courts of Appeal $1,110,126 5.27% Land Court/Tax Court 76,943 .37% Administrative Director Services 2,537,416 12.04% Law Library 414,214 1.97% SAC 413,087 1.96% Appropriation for both Circuit Courts and District Courts . c ". ·:!l ." Rauai, Niihau Oahu Molokai, Maui, Lanai Hawaii Fifth Circuit First Circuit Second Circuit Third Circuit $623,764 $12,929,288 $1,394,086 $1,564,848 2.96% 61.38% 6.62% 7.43% The Judiciary $21,063,772 1.85% The Judiciary State General Fund Appropriations by amount and percent of total, Fiscal Year 1980-81 "'.~' c. I l - Groundbreaking: Groundbreaking for Kauikeaouli Hale, the new Steps in a Long Range l1-story District Court Kauikeaouli Hale and building, located at Hotel Kaahumanu Hale, the new and Alakea Streets, is Capital Improvements scheduled for completion District and Circuit Court in September, 1982. buildings which will serve the Program First Judicial Circuit of Oahu, Fifteen years ago, projections of caseload and court culminates years of planning. activities graphically illustrated the need for re­ The Judiciary's capital design, renovation and expansion of the Judiciary's improvements program physical facilities. includes new buildings on the In time, visual evidence of this need became more apparent: crowded courtrooms; dysfunc­ Neighbor Islands as well: the tional areas; insufficient space for courtroom­ Wailuku Judiciary Complex on related duties such as jury rooms and prisoner Maui; a District Courthouse in holding cells in criminal cases. Threat of mistrials South Kohala on the Big caused by space and design inadequacies also un­ derscored the need for improvement. Island; and a District Early proposals for capital improvements cov­ Courtroom in the Kaunakakai ered a range of possibilities. At one point, planners Civic Center on Molokai. envisioned a single building for both the Circuit and Distr.ict Courts. At another time, they suggested ~ large complex which would house sev­ eraljudicial institutions including a law school. Site determination and acquisition of land presented other possibilities and problems. Groundbreaking for the new Honolulu District Court building in fiscal year 1979-80 culminated years of discussion, planning and fmal decision­ making. Named Kauikeaouli Hale in honor of King Kamehameha III, the first ChiefJudge of the Hawaii Supreme Court, the new courthouse is lo­ cated at Hotel and Alakea Streets; it brings together in one building all the functions and offices of the Honolulu District Court presently scattered through several buildings in downtown Honolulu. The estimated cost of the eleven-story structure is $24 million; completion is scheduled for Sep­ tember, 1982. Groundbreaking for the new First Circuit Court building in fiscal year 1980-81 represents another step in the Judiciary's long range capital improvements program. Ground was broken May 1, 1981, for Kaahumanu Hale. The building is named for Kamehameha's favorite wife, whom the king designated kuhina nui to rule with his son Liholiho. Kaahumanu Hale, a four-story complex, will house all of the First Circuit Court now prima­ rily located in Ali'iolani Hale-the Supreme Court building, in Kekuanao'a-the Territorial Office 4 building, and in Kapuaiwa-the old Board of \ 5 ===-"-- ~------------ - A photograph of the artists' sketch for the District Court mural depicts Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, in his role as the first ChiefJudge of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Health building. Estimated cost of the new First located at the Kaunakakai Civic Center. Circuit Court building located at Punchbowl and Tentative date for beginning ofconstruction Halekauwila Streets is $27 million; completion is is February, 1983; completion is scheduled tentatively scheduled for October, 1983. for November, 1983. Other new projects were legislatively funded In addition, other upgrading, remodeling, and during fiscal year 1980-81: renovation projects were funded during fiscal year Construction of the Wailuku Judiciary 1980-81: Complex on Maui is scheduled to begin in The second phase of Ali'iolani Hale res­ December, 1981. Completion date is set for toration begins as the offices ofthe Adminis­ September, 1983. The Complex, which will trative Director and the Supreme Court house the Circuit, Family and District Clerk are moved to the first floor. The sec­ Courts, will be located at Wells and Market ond floor of the Queen Street wing will be Streets. renovated to accommodate the Law Li­ A new District Courthouse is planned brary. for the South Kohala District on the Big The second floor of the Lahaina District Island. To be part ofthe Waimea Civic Cen­ Court is marked for renovation and refur­ ter, the Courthouse will contain 2,400 bishing in February, 1982. Completion date Kaahumanu Hale, the square feet of floor space. Construction is for the project is September, 1982. four-story complex which will house the First Circuit scheduled to begin in November, 1981, Court, is scheduled for with completion date scheduled for June, Appropriations legislatively approved during completion in October, 1982. fiscal year 1980-81 also included funds for future 1983. The complex is located at Punchbowl and A new Molokai District Court is plan­ planning of the Judiciary's capital improvement Halekauwila Streets. ned as part of the State Office Building to be needs. Principal artist Juliette May Fraser consults with assistants Mataumu T. Alisa, 1.. and David G. Asherman, r., as they begin work on a mural in Kauikeaouli Hale. 7 District Court referrals beginning in February, The value of volunteer services Highlighting 1981. is incalculable in human terms, Voluntarism: Towards the end of fIscal year 1980-81, VIPS received approval for a grant award of $31,317 hut statistical evaluation of the Positive Impact Upon from the Progressive Neighborhoods Program, Judiciary!'s volunteer program udicial Services with supplemental funds of $7,000 from the results in the following data: 1 Judiciary. Grant monies are to be used for a one­ year trial project to increase foster home services to during fiscal year 1980-81, Recognizing that volunteer efforts could enhance the Kalihi-Palama, Waianae, and Waimanalo areas. nearly 175 volunteers the quality ofjudicial services offered by the courts In the past few years, VIPS has modifIed its to its clientele and to the general community, the contributed work hours which philosophy and direction. A traditional volunteer Judiciary established its volunteer program ten program continues to be an integral part ofVIPS. In roughly translate to an in-kind years ago to encourage citizen participation in the addition, VIPS now promote" awareness ofjudicial dollar contril~ution of criminal and juvenile justice systems.