Recent News About Hawaii State Judiciary
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HILO, Hawaiʻi – Over the recent fall break, 20 high school students from various schools on Hawaiʻi Island participated in the first Hilo Law & Justice Academy. The three-day program was held at Hale Kaulike (Hilo courthouse) and ended with a mock trial exercise.
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Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy M. DeWeese has been recognized with the Ka Lehua Kea Hiwahiawa Award by Going Home Hawaiʻi for her significant contributions to the community on Hawaiʻi island. The organization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, focuses on helping individuals reintegrate into society through employment, education, housing, and other services.
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Hawaiʻi State Judiciary judges and staff gathered at the Waiʻanae Public Library to assist individuals with bench warrant and penal summons recalls related to traffic and petty misdemeanor cases. The event, held on a Saturday afternoon, saw the processing of 46 ex-parte motions prepared by the Office of the Public Defender. These motions were assigned new hearing dates for those seeking assistance.
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Sixty-one new probation officers were sworn in by Chief Judge Jeannette Castagnetti at the First Circuit Probation Conference held in Honolulu. Chief Court Administrator Lori Okita and Deputy Chief Court Administrator Dwight Sakai presented the officers with lei and certificates of appointment.
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Rebecca A. Copeland, Brian A. Costa, Dyan M. Medeiros, and Steven R. Nichols have officially taken their positions as Circuit Court Judges for the First Circuit in Honolulu. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by colleagues, special guests, family, and friends.
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Michelle N. Comeau was sworn in as Judge of the District Court of the First Circuit before colleagues, special guests, family, and friends, many of whom watched remotely. Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna presided over the July 3 ceremony, which was livestreamed on the Judiciary’s YouTube channel.
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The Hawaii County Bar Association (HCBA) convened in Hilo on June 7 to honor the recipient of its annual essay contest and scholarship program.
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HONOLULU — On this historic day in 1865, word of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, Texas, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is both a time to honor the freedom and resilience of Black Americans and to reflect upon their pursuit of true racial equality that continues to this day.
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LIHU‘E, Hawaiʻi – Seven eighth-grade students from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School participated in the Fifth Judicial Circuit's inaugural Law Day Art Contest by submitting original artworks based on the theme “The Rule of Law and Lady Justice.”
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On May 14, 2024, more than 20 attorneys participated in the Kauaʻi Self-Help Center Attorney Training. This event, which provided continuing legal education, was designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to contribute to the statewide initiative aimed at enhancing access to justice for Hawaiʻi residents requiring assistance with civil legal matters.
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HONOLULU — First Circuit Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (ret.) and First Circuit Judge Trish K. Morikawa have been honored by the Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers (HWL). The recognition took place on April 25 at the Hoʻokupu Center.
