Online publication Civil Beat challenged the City Department of Budget & Fiscal Service’s denial of access to formal inter-agency memoranda that are part of the City’s budget process. The case questions whether Hawaii law permits agencies to withhold all record of government deliberations under a “deliberative process privilege.” On February 5, 2016, Judge Virginia Crandall entered judgment upholding the City’s use of the deliberative process privilege. Civil No. 15-1-0891-05 VLC. Civil Beat sought to have its appeal heard by the Hawaii Supreme Court, which accepted the case on October 12, 2016. The Supreme Court heard oral argument on June 1, 2017. Supreme Court No. SCAP-16-114, ICA No. CAAP-16-114. On December 21, 2018, the Hawaii Supreme Court held that the deliberative process privilege is not a basis for withholding records under the Hawaii public records law.
- Complaint (5/8/15)
- Answer (6/1/15)
- Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
- Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (6/5/15)
- Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (7/20/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (7/24/15)
- Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (7/23/15)
- Order Denying Summary Judgment (9/21/15)
- Plaintiff’s Motion to Expedite Proceeding
- Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (8/18/15)
- Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
- Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (9/1/15)
- Order Granting in Part Motion to Expedite Proceeding (10/6/15)
- Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment
- Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count I) (10/19/15)
- Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count II) (10/19/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (10/19/15)
- Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count I) (11/13/15)
- Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count II) (11/13/15)
- Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count I) (11/25/15)
- Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count II) (11/25/15)
- Plaintiff’s Combined Reply Memorandum (Count I & II) (11/30/15)
- Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count I) (11/30/15)
- Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count II) (11/30/15)
- Orders Granting Defendants’ Motions/Denying Plaintiffs’ Motions (1/13/16)
- Final Judgment (2/5/16)
- Notice of Appeal (2/29/16)
- Record on Appeal (Part I)
- Record on Appeal (Part II)
- OIP Notice of Intention Not to File Answering Brief (4/21/16)
- Civil Beat’s Opening Brief (5/2/16)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (6/13/16)
- City’s Answering Brief (7/27/16)
- Civil Beat’s Reply Brief (8/22/16)
- Application for Transfer (9/9/16)
- Order Granting Application for Transfer (10/12/16)
- Oral Argument (audio) (6/1/17)
- Opinion (12/21/18)
- Dissenting Opinion (12/21/18)
- Request for Attorney’s Fees & Costs on Appeal (1/7/19)
- Memorandum in Support (1/7/19)
- City’s Opposition to Request for Fees (1/17/19)
- Reply Memorandum in Support (1/22/19)
- Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Request for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (2/26/19)
- Judgment on Appeal (3/13/19)