Mandamus Is Unavailable to Upset a Primary Election Tie-Breaker When a Statutory Election Contest Remedy Existed; Court Flags Need for Timely Public Access to Overage/Underage Data 1. Introduction...
Tie Elections in Hawaiʻi: Zero-Margin Overages, Burden on Election Officials, and Invalid “By Lot” Procedures Adopted Without Rulemaking Context: The provided text is an amended separate opinion by...
Souza v. Nago: Tie-Breaker-by-Lot Procedures Are HAPA “Rules,” and a Tie Plus Unresolvable Overage Requires a New Primary Election Introduction Souza v. Nago (Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi, Sept. 4, 2026)...
Tie Elections Require Accounted Ballots and Promulgated “Lot” Procedures; Courts May Order a Completion Election Under HRS § 11-175 I. Introduction Souza v. Nago (Haw. Sept. 4, 2026) is a...
De La Cruz v. State: HRS § 12-41(b) “Ten Percent” Uses Candidate Votes Only; Hustace v. Doi Controls Equal-Protection Challenges to Nonpartisan Advancement Rules 1. Introduction Case: De La Cruz v....
HRS § 12-8 as the Exclusive Pre‑Election Vehicle for Candidate-Eligibility Disputes; “Elected To” Term Limits Count Fixed Charter Terms Despite Delayed Swearing-In 1. Introduction Iwasa v. Nago...
State v. Amasiu: Statute of Limitations “Commencement” for Information Charging Occurs Upon a Probable-Cause Finding Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi (Aug. 26, 2026) — SCWC-21-0000556 I. Introduction State...
Hawaiʻi Constitution Requires an Express “Fifth Miranda Warning” and Continuing Right-to-Counsel Advisement (Prospective Only) Case: State v. Garces, Jr., Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi (Aug. 24, 2026),...
Standing in Foreclosure Requires Clear, Decoded Proof of Note Possession at Filing; Post-Ruling Stipulations Cannot Cure Ambiguity Inequitably I. Introduction Case: UMB Bank, N.A. v. Tupulua, Supreme...
Private Attorney General Fees Against Private Permittees: Active Opposition Can Trigger Full Certiorari “Fees-on-Fees” Liability 1. Introduction Ralston v. Board of Land and Natural Resources,...
State v. Bekkum: Post-Conviction Charging Challenges Apply the Motta/Wells Presumption—No “Fair Notice” Dismissal Absent Prejudice or Failure to Allege a Crime I. Introduction State v. Bekkum (Haw....
HRS § 91-7 Authorizes Facial Declaratory Challenges to Tax Rules; HRS § 91-7(a) Is Venue (Not Jurisdiction), Overruling Hawaii Home Infusion Associates v. Befitel I. Introduction In Booking.com B.V....
Intentional Tort Damages Are Not Reduced by Comparative Negligence in Hawaiʻi (Overruling Ozaki I) 1. Introduction In Ricapor-Hall v. Philip Morris USA Inc. (Haw. Aug. 6, 2026), the Hawaiʻi Supreme...
Hawaiʻi PIP Benefits Require Proof of Prepaid-Plan Comparability; Statutory Definitions Defeat “Ambiguity” I. Introduction Case: In the Matter of the Request for Payment of, Christopher Lawinski,...
Small Claims Courts in Hawaiʻi Lack Jurisdiction to Decide Pet Ownership (Replevin/Title) Disputes 1. Introduction In Miller v. Collins (Haw. July 27, 2026), petitioner Alexandra Miller sought...
State v. Dela Cruz: A Tachibana Waiver Remains Valid Under the Totality of the Circumstances Even Without the Exact “Is Anyone Forcing You Not to Testify?” Question I. Introduction In State v. Dela...
Counties May Streamline SMA Permitting, Not Eliminate the Non‑Delegable CZMA “Assessment” (Final EA Required; No Categorical Self‑Certification Exemptions) I. Introduction In Maui Tomorrow Foundation...
Discredited Forensic Microscopy as “False Evidence”: HRPP Rule 40 Relief When Science Invalidates Trial Expert Testimony 1. Introduction Case: Granillo v. State, SCWC-22-0000740 (Haw. July 15, 2026)....
State v. Woody: A Two-Step Standard for State Continuances Based on Witness Unavailability (HRPP Rule 48 Due Diligence First; Common-Law Good Cause Totality Second) and Rejection of the “Lee Test”...
“Involved in a Collision” Under HRS § 291C-12(a) Includes Non-Contact Drivers (and Vagueness Challenges Are As-Applied Absent First Amendment Concerns) Case: State v. Nahulu (Haw. July 2, 2026)...