OUR ADVOCACY

CASES

Enforcing the Public's Right to Transparency

The following case summaries and select court filings provide a resource for those seeking to enforce public rights of access.

Disappeared News v. Maui Planning Commission

Disappeared News, The Hawaii Independent, and Victor Gregor Limon challenged the decision of a hearing officer for the Maui Planning Commission to close contested case[...]

In re Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest

The Law Center moved to unseal to Defendant Minh-Hung Nguyen's redacted sentencing memorandum in United States v. Kealoha, 17-CR-582 JMS WRP. On June 1, 2020,[...]

Judges for Justice v. Nakamoto

Judges for Justice, a Washington nonprofit, filed a motion to unseal in In re Schweitzer, S.P. No. 07-1-0007. The only filings in the case (two[...]

Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, Inc. v. City & County of Honolulu

The Law Center challenged the Honolulu City Council’s decision to amend a meeting agenda with less notice than required by the Sunshine Law to discuss[...]

In re Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest

The Law Center objected to Defendant Louis Kealoha’s effort to seal “letters and documents” regarding his sentencing in United States v. Kealoha, 17-CR-582 JMS WRP.[...]

In re Office of Information Practices Opinion Letter No. F19-05

The State of Hawaii Department of Taxation disagreed with an opinion issued by the Office of Information Practices concerning public access to the Department’s assumptions[...]

In re Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest

The Law Center moved for the public release of the court-approved Criminal Justice Act payment vouchers–payments for taxpayer-funded defense counsel and other services–in United States[...]

In re Office of Information Practices Opinion Letter No. F19-04

The City & County of Honolulu disagreed with an opinion issued by the Office of Information Practices concerning public access to the City’s appraisals of[...]

In re Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest

The Law Center moved to unseal competency evaluation records after the Court found a criminal defendant unfit to stand trial in United States v. Ernest[...]

In re Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest

The Law Center objected to Defendants Katherine Kealoha and Louis Kealoha’s effort to seal documents filed in connection with a motion in limine to suppress[...]