NCJ Number
47770
Date Published
1977
Length
88 pages
Annotation
THIS STATISTICAL AND NARRATIVE REPORT ON THE HAWAIIAN COURT SYSTEM PROVIDES DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH OF THE SYSTEM'S DIVISIONS, TABLES SUMMARIZING OPERATIONS FOR THE 1977 FISCAL YEAR, AND PROJECTIONS FOR YEARS 1990-2000.
Abstract
THE PROJECTIONS DETAIL THE CRISIS WHICH WILL OCCUR IN THE STATE'S COURTS IF CASELOADS AND APPEALS CONTINUE TO INCREASE AT CURRENT RATES. FILINGS FOR ALL COURTS INCREASED 100 PERCENT OVER FISCAL YEAR 1976, WHICH IN TURN, INCREASED 100 PERCENT OVER FISCAL YEAR 1975. IF CASELOADS CONTINUE TO DOUBLE EVERY YEAR, BY THE YEAR 1990 THERE WILL BE 1,183,178 FILINGS AND 1,352,838 CASES IN THE HAWAIIAN COURT SYSTEM. AN INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO EASE THE VOLUME HANDLED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT. NEW JUDGESHIPS, DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS, AND EXPANDED COURT FACILITIES ARE PROPOSED TO EASE THE CASELOAD AT THE CIRCUIT COURT LEVEL. THE REPORT ALSO EXPLAINS THE WORKINGS OF THE TAX APPEAL COURT, THE LAND COURT, FAMILY COURTS, COURTS OF THE PEOPLE, THE VIOLATIONS BUREAU, AND THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM. MUCH OF THE INCREASE IN LITIGATION IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF POPULATION GROWTH IN HAWAII. EXPANDING THE COURT SYSTEM TO HANDLE AN EXPANDED POPULATION IS SEEN AS A MAJOR CHALLENGE. OPERATING DATA FOR 1976-1977 ARE PROVIDED AND COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARTICLE MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JUDICIARY, IS REPRINTED. (GLR)