United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
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The United States District Court for the District of Hawaii is the United States district court of the United States Federal Court System in the state of Hawaii. Located at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu fronting the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor. The court hears both civil and criminal cases as a court of both law and Equity law. A branch of the district court is the United States Bankruptcy Court which also has chambers in the federal building.
When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals based in Downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browing Federal Courthouse.
Vacancy warning level
The United States District Court for the District of Hawaii's vacancy warning level is currently set at green. The court currently has no vacancies.
Jurisdiction
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The jurisdiction of the District of Hawaii consists of all the counties in the state of Hawaii. The court is located at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu fronting the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals based in downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse. |
Cases heard
The District of Hawaii has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
Case load
| Federal Court Case Load Statistics* |
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| Year | Starting case load: | Cases filed: | Total cases: | Cases terminated: | Remaining cases: | Median time(Criminal)**: | Median time(Civil)**: | 3 Year Civil cases#: | Vacant posts:## | Trials/Post | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 797 | 1066 | 1863 | 950 | 913 | 11.0 | 8.9 | 21(3.2%) | 12.0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | 827 | 994 | 1821 | 1021 | 800 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 23(4.2%) | 3.0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 917 | 895 | 1812 | 996 | 816 | 8.5 | 11.4 | 19(3.5%) | .0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | 1060 | 1020 | 2080 | 1159 | 921 | 11.3 | 10.3 | 28(4.5%) | .0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 1158 | 1101 | 2259 | 1212 | 1047 | 13.6 | 9.3 | 61(8.2%) | .0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *All statistics are taken from the Official Federal Courts' Website and reflect the calendar year through September. **Time in months from filing to completion. #This statistic includes cases which have been appealed in higher courts. ##This is the total number of months that any all judicial posts had spent vacant that year. |
Clerk's office
The District of Hawaii has four separate courthouses. The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, excluding State holidays. Please consult the chart below for more information:
| Branch | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| O`ahu Division | Kauikeaouli Hale 1111 Alakea Street |
Information - Court Concierge Desk (808) 538-5767
District Court Service Center (808) 538-5629 |
| Maui Division | Hoapili Hale 2145 Main Street |
Chief Court Administrator (808) 244-2929
Fax: (808) 244-2849 |
| Hawai`i Division | Hale Kaulike 777 Kilauea Avenue |
Information: (808) 961-7470 |
| Kaua`i Division | 3970 Ka`ana Street Lihu`e, Hawai`i 96766 |
Information (808) 482-2300 |
History
Court history
The District of Hawaii was established by Congress on March 18, 1959 with two posts to cover the entire state. The state of Hawaii was established as a territorial government in 1900, and following statute 73 Stat. 4, it was assigned over to the Ninth Circuit. Over time 2 additional judicial posts were added for a total of 4 current posts.[2]
Judicial posts
The following table highlights the development of judicial posts for the District of Hawaii:
| Year | Statute | Total Seats |
| March 18, 1959 | 73 Stat. 4 | 2 |
| July 10, 1984 | 98 Stat. 333 | 3 |
| December 1, 1990 | 104 Stat. 5089 | 4 |
Notable cases
For cases in the District of Hawaii, see Justia.com or the Hawaii State Judiciary.
| • Failed prosecution fees Judge(s):Susan Oki Mollway *[ United States of America v. Alec Souphone Sou and Mike Mankone Sou] 09-cr-00345-SOM |
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| In August 2009, brothers Michael Mankone Sou and Alec Souphone Sou of Aloun Farms were indicted on three counts: forced labor, document servitude and visa fraud, for their role in the recruitment that Thai workers say left them in deep financial trouble. [3] The two brothers pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring with Thai labor recruiters to bring 44 Thai nationals to the country. [4][4]
At the time of the indictment, Aloun Farms was Hawaii’s second largest farm covering 3,000 acres on Oahu. It was a family business, having been started by the Sou brothers parents. [3] [5] UpdateThe original charges alleged that the brothers were involved in a forced labor human trafficking ring for Thai workers, but the chargers were dropped when the lead prosecutor admitted to misstating the law in the grand jury trial. A federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii ruled that the U.S. Government does not owe the defenses' court costs for its failed prosecution of the Aloun Farms human trafficking case. The judge ruled that Mike and Alec Sou had failed to prove that the governments charges were frivolous and refused to grant them the $500,000 in defense fees they requested. [6] |
Federal courthouse
Four separate courthouses serve the District of Hawaii.
Major news
For new stories and other related material see Hawaii judicial news.
See also
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- News: Federal Judicial Selection Commission seeks applications for Hawaii federal district judge position, March 7, 2012
External links
- Official Website of the United States Court for the District of Hawaii
- Hawaii State Judiciary
- US Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii
- Federal Judicial Center-U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii Website
- Judges of the District of Hawaii
- Opinions of the District of Hawaii
References
- ↑ Court Clerk Information(Select the appropriate division for info and map)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 FJC History of the District of Hawaii
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Aloun Farm Owners, Thai Labor Recruiter, Await Sentencing for Forced Labor Violations; Hawaii’s Influential Government and Banking Officials Back Defendants in Court" Hawaii Reporter, July 19th, 2010
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sentencing delayed in Hawaii forced labor case" Stamford Advocate, July 20, 2010
- ↑ Aloun Farms "About Us" page
- ↑ Honolulu Civil Beat, "Hawaii Federal Judge: U.S. Won't Pick Up Tab for Aloun Farms Defense" 12/1/2011
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| Contents |
|---|
| 1 Court |
| 2 Judges |
| 2.1 Active Judges |
| 2.1.1 Article III judges |
| 2.1.2 Pending appointments |
| 2.1.3 Senior judges |
| 2.2 Past judges |
| 2.2.1 Former Chief judges |
| 2.2.2 Former judges |
Active judges
Article III judges
See: Article III federal judgeThe United States District Court for the District of Hawaii has 4 posts and 0 vacancies. The current Chief Judge is Susan Oki Mollway. This is a list of the current judges on the court:
| Judge | Born | Home | Appointed by | Active | Chief | Preceeded | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway | 1950 | Honolulu, HI | Clinton | 6/23/1998 - Present | 2009 - Present | Harold Fong | U. of Hawaii, B.A., 1971 | Harvard Law School, J.D., 1981 |
| Judge John Seabright | 1959 | Wheeling, WV | W. Bush | 4/28/2005 - Present | Alan Cooke Kay | Tulane U., B.A., 1981 | George Washington U. Law School, J.D., 1984 | |
| Judge Leslie Kobayashi | 1957 | Mount Holly, New Jersey | Obama | 12/22/2010 - Present | Helen Gillmor | Wellesley College, B.A., 1979 | Boston College School of Law, J.D., 1983 | |
| Judge Derrick Kahala Watson | 1966 | Honolulu, HI | Obama | 4/18/2013 - Present | David Alan Ezra | Harvard, A.B., 1988 | Harvard Law, J.D., 1991 |
Pending appointments
There are no current pending appointments for the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Senior judges
See: Federal judges on senior statusThe United States District Court for the District of Hawaii has 3 judges on senior status currently. This is a list of the current senior judges on the court:
| Judge | Appointed by | Active | Chief | Senior | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Judge Helen Gillmor | Clinton | 10/11/1994 - 6/30/2009 | 2005 - 2009 | 6/30/2009 - Present | Queens College, City U. of New York, B.A., 1965 | Boston U. School of Law, LL.B., 1968 |
| Senior Judge Alan Cooke Kay | Reagan | 9/15/1986 - 1/2/2000 | 1991 - 1999 | 1/2/2000 - Present | Princeton U., A.B., 1957 | U. of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, LL.B., 1960 |
| Senior Judge David Alan Ezra | Reagan | 5/20/1988 - 6/27/2012 | 1999 - 2005 | 6/27/2012 - Present | St. Mary`s U., B.B.A., 1969 | St. Mary`s U. School of Law, J.D., 1972 |
Magistrate judges
| Judge | Active | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi | 04/01/2011 - Present | U. of New Mexico Law, J.D., 1979 | |
| Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang | |||
| Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren |
Past judges
Former Chief judges
| Judge | Term |
|---|---|
| Cyrus Tavares | 1960 - 1961 |
| Harold Fong | 1984 - 1991 |
| Martin Pence | 1961 - 1974 |
| David Alan Ezra | 1999 - 2005 |
| Alan Cooke Kay | 1991 - 1999 |
| Samuel King | 1974 - 1984 |
| Helen Gillmor | 2005 - 2009 |
In order to qualify for the office of Chief Judge in one of the federal courts, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as Chief Judge. A vacancy in the office of Chief Judge is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The Chief Judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position. Unlike the Chief Justice of the United States, a Chief Judge returns to active service after the expiration of his or her term and does not create a vacancy on the bench by the fact of his or her promotion. See 28 U.S.C. § 45.
These rules for Chief Judges in the federal judiciary have been in effect since October 1, 1982. The office of Chief Judge was created in 1948. Until August 6, 1959, the position was filled in each federal court by the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as Chief Judge. From then until 1982 it was filled by the senior such judge who had not turned 70.
Former judges
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| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Susan Oki Mollway • John Seabright • Leslie Kobayashi • Derrick Kahala Watson | ||
| Senior judges | |||
| Magistrate judges | Richard Puglisi • Kevin Chang • Barry Kurren • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
Samuel King • Martin Pence • Harold Fong • Walter Heen • Cyrus Tavares • Dick Wong • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Helen Gillmor • Samuel King • Alan Cooke Kay • David Alan Ezra • Martin Pence • Harold Fong • Cyrus Tavares • | ||
