Court Opinion

ID: 4698471
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-24 20:05:21.845041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:53.404050
License: Public Domain

Electronically Filed
                                                      Supreme Court
                                                      SCMF-XX-XXXXXXX
                                                      24-JUN-2021
                                                      08:45 AM
                                                      Dkt. 121 ORD

                          SCMF-XX-XXXXXXX

          IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI

            In the Matter of the Judiciary’s Response
                     to the COVID-19 Outbreak

     ORDER FURTHER EXTENDING JUNE 5, 2020 ORDER TEMPORARILY
  SUSPENDING IN PART HAWAIʻI RULES OF PENAL PROCEDURE RULE 6(a)
               (CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT)
(By: Recktenwald, C.J., Nakayama, McKenna, Wilson, and Eddins, JJ.)

          On March 4, 2020, Governor David Ige declared a state

of emergency in Hawaiʻi in response to the public health threat

posed by COVID-19.   In response to the declared state of

emergency, the Chief Justice issued an Order on March 16, 2020,

which, among other things, postponed non-urgent court business

in an effort to ensure the health and safety of court personnel

and users, and minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the

courts.

          Pursuant to the Chief Justice’s May 22, 2020 Order

Regarding Jury Trial and Grand Juries, beginning June 1, 2020,

grand jury proceedings were allowed to commence as directed by
the chief judge of the respective circuit.     At that time, based

on recommended health and safety guidelines that physical

distancing be maintained, and with limited resources, the First

Circuit Court did not have the capacity in Ka‘ahumanu Hale to

place 16 grand jurors as required under Hawaiʻi Rules of Penal

Procedure Rule 6(a), as well as the individuals required to be

present while the grand jury is in session as set forth under

Hawaiʻi Rules of Penal Procedure Rule 6(d), in the same space and

allow for physical distancing.

          Therefore, to protect the health and safety of

Judiciary personnel, jurors, and court users consistent with the

recommendations of public health authorities, while maintaining

court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic without

unnecessary delay, on June 5, 2020, this court issued its “Order

Temporarily Suspending in Part Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure

Rule 6(a)”, which, as to the First Circuit, temporarily reduced

the number of members of a grand jury from 16 members to 12

members through July 31, 2020.   As the positivity rate of COVID-

19 cases increased, and the ongoing health concerns and the

continued mandate for physical distancing remained in place, it

was necessary to extend the June 5, 2020 order.     Currently, the

June 5, 2020 order expires on June 30, 2021.

          The First Circuit Court has taken significant steps to

be able to allow grand jury proceedings to resume with 12-member

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grand jury panels and in compliance with physical distancing

measures.     Given the current emergency orders and health and

safety guidelines in place, and the continued mandate for

physical distancing, it is necessary for the 12-member grand

jury panels to remain in effect to allow the First Circuit Court

to continue to hold grand jury proceedings.

            Therefore, pursuant to Article VI, section 7 of the

Hawaiʻi Constitution and Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §§ 602-5(a)(6)

and 612-27,

            IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the June 5, 2020 “Order

Temporarily Suspending in Part Hawai‘i Rules of Penal Procedure

Rule 6(a)” is further extended until December 31, 2021.        This

order may be modified or extended as necessary.

            Dated:   Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, June 24, 2021.

                                       /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald

                                       /s/ Paula A. Nakayama

                                       /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna

                                       /s/ Michael D. Wilson

                                       /s/ Todd W. Eddins

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