Court Opinion

ID: 9550309
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:33:55.215075+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:22.849759
License: Public Domain

CONCURRING OPINION OF
KOBAYASHI, J.
I concur with the opinion of the majority in all respects, save and except, that the hearing which petitioner is entitled to should not be held ex parte.
It is essential that the State participate at the hearing in order that the trial court be more fully informed in the resolution of petitioner’s requests for financial assistance for the preparation of an adequate defense.
Without the State’s participation, the trial court could very well be placed in the untenable position of being required to review the entire case of the prosecution in order to determine the validity of any of petitioner’s demands for assistance.
Furthermore, the portion of the opinion of the majority, stating “the judge should allow counsel . . . without disclosing his defense theory or tactics to the prosecution” (emphasis added), restricts the trial court improperly and runs contra to Rule 16(c) (3), Hawaii Rules of Penal Procedure.