Opinion ID: 2607272
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Judicial Taking

Text: Under the judicial taking theory, when a judicial decision alters property rights, the decision may amount to an unconstitutional taking of property. See Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R. Co. v. Chicago, 166 U.S. 226, 235, 17 S.Ct. 581, 584, 41 L.Ed. 979 (1897); see also Hughes v. Washington, 389 U.S. 290, 296-98, 88 S.Ct. 438, 442-443, 19 L.Ed.2d 530 (1967) (Stewart, J., concurring) (suggesting that a state supreme court's decisionthat the state owned accreted land built up by the oceanamounted to a sudden, unpredictable, and unforeseeable change in state property law, which amounted to an unconstitutional judicial taking). However, the judicial taking theory is by no means a settled issue of law. Corporation of Presiding Bishop v. Hodel, aff'd, 830 F.2d 374, 381 (D.C.Cir.1987) (declining to decide the question whether a judicial taking occurred), affirming 637 F.Supp. 1398 (D.D.C. 1986); see also Hodel, 637 F.Supp. at 1407 (rejecting a takings claim based on a decision by the High Court of American Samoa). Assuming, without deciding, that the theory is viable, a judicial decision would only constitute an unconstitutional taking of private property if it involve[d] retroactive alteration of state law such as would constitute an unconstitutional taking of private property. Bonelli Cattle Co. v. Arizona, 414 U.S. 313, 337 n. 2, 94 S.Ct. 517, 531, 38 L.Ed.2d 526 (1973) (Stewart, J., dissenting). [45] In the instant case, Nansay argues that the recognition of traditional Hawaiian rights beyond those established in Kalipi and Pele would fundamentally alter its property rights. However, Nansay's argument places undue reliance on western understandings of property law that are not universally applicable in Hawai`i. Moreover, Hawaiian custom and usage have always been a part of the laws of this State. Therefore, our recognition of customary and traditional Hawaiian rights, as discussed in section IV.B., supra, does not constitute a judicial taking.