Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB385

Introduced
1/20/23  

Caption

Relating To Judges For The District Court Of The First Circuit.

Impact

The implementation of HB385 is expected to alleviate some of the pressures faced by the existing judges in the First Circuit, thereby facilitating quicker resolutions of cases. By expanding the court's capacity, the bill targets the growing demand for judicial resources in landlord-tenant and small claims matters, potentially leading to improved access to justice for constituents in those areas. Furthermore, this move may also serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in other circuits that face high volumes of cases.

Summary

House Bill 385 aims to enhance the judicial capacity of the First Circuit Court by adding an additional judgeship. This change is intended to address the increasing caseload in the district court and improve the overall efficiency of the judiciary within the circuit. The bill amends the Hawaii Revised Statutes, specifically Section 604-1, which governs the appointment of judges to various judicial circuits, thereby increasing the number of judges in the First Circuit from fourteen to fifteen.

Contention

While the expansion of the judgeship has been generally supported as a necessary step to ensure effective judicial administration, discussions around the bill may reflect varying perspectives on the allocation of judicial resources. Some stakeholders may argue for a more nuanced approach to judicial appointments, advocating for increased funding or resources to be directed towards other areas of the court system, rather than merely expanding the number of judges. Nevertheless, the prevailing sentiment appears to recognize the need for increased judicial capacity in response to rising case numbers.

Companion Bills

HI SB485

Same As Relating To Judges For The District Court Of The First Circuit.

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