The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court held a session at Mililani High School on December 10, allowing nearly 400 students to witness oral arguments in the case SCAP-23-0000540, Bell vs. Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority. This event was part of the Judiciary's Courts in the Community outreach program.
Students from ʻAiea, Leilehua, McKinley, Mililani, Radford, and Waipahu high schools participated. They observed attorneys present their legal arguments regarding a tenant evicted from public housing after her guest injured a neighbor. The proceedings included question-and-answer sessions with both attorneys and justices.
Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald emphasized the educational value of this program: “Courts in the Community is one of the Judiciary’s foremost programs to educate students and the public about the rule of law and the role of the courts in resolving disputes in a democratic society.” He expressed gratitude towards educators and legal professionals involved: “I would like to extend a special mahalo to the teachers, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Hawaii State Bar Foundation, and all the volunteer attorneys who helped make this happen.”
The Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) and its foundation supported by providing lunches and transportation for students. HSBA President Jesse Souki praised these efforts: “I commend the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary for its continued commitment to educating Hawaiʻi’s youth through the Courts in the Community program.”
The event was accessible via livestream on YouTube and broadcasted on ʻŌlelo Community Media Television.
Courts in the Community is designed as an interactive civics education initiative aimed at enhancing students' understanding of legal processes. Preparation involved studying materials developed by Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center alongside moot court activities facilitated by HSBA attorneys.
This marked the 21st session since its inception at Farrington High School in February 2012; Mililani last hosted it on December 4, 2014.