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Justice Moon Hawaii's Judiciary has come a long way in increasing public access and dispelling the veil of secrecy that surrounds the court system, according to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon.
promotes an open
Judiciary
His state of the Judiciary
Full text of speech
address focuses on new
programs, commitmentBy Debra Barayuga
Star-BulletinIn his state of the Judiciary address today, Moon tried to dispel the notion that Hawaii's courts are still resolving disputes and operating the same way it has since the days of the horse and buggy.
Innovative programs launched by the Judiciary making the courts more accessible to users and litigants and increasing public confidence reflect the Judiciary's "deep commitment to continually re-examine the way we do business," he said.
The courts fight for those without a voice or the less-privileged, "providing order, stability, and predictability to the capricious and chaotic events of life," he said.
Calling the courts "a guardian of the architecture of democracy itself," Moon called on the Executive and Legislative branches to respect the Judiciary's role to remain separate as essential to a democracy.
While the Judiciary is grateful for the adjustments made to judicial salaries last session and is not seeking pay raises in the upcoming fiscal biennium, Moon said the way judicial compensation is calculated now is "fundamentally flawed" and should be changed. He urged lawmakers to ensure that judges won't have to wait another 10 years for a raise.
Hawaii's courts, and courts nationwide, are looking at less traditional ways of curbing crime, Moon said.
One example is the Hawaii Drug Court, which enables offenders who qualify to undergo treatment and rehabilitation rather than go to jail. The program saves taxpayers $600,000 to $800,000 a year, Moon said.
He said the program's success can be measured by its graduates, such as Reyna Abordo.
After years of addiction to crystal methamphetamine, convictions for credit card fraud and drug offenses, and having her three children taken away from her, Abordo graduated from the Drug Court program after two years and for the past 4 1/2 years has remained drug-free.
She is now a manager for a local supermarket, was reunited with her children and volunteers to work with women addicted to drugs.
The Judiciary is looking to expand the program to the Big Island and Kauai after starting one on Maui last summer with support from the Legislature. A juvenile drug court on Oahu is expected to begin in March.
Since the Ho'okele Court Navigation Project was begun in August, concierge staff at District Court, Circuit Court and Family Court have helped more than 20,000 users by explaining court procedures, directing them to the proper courts or agencies and helping them fill out forms.
The Judiciary also works toward promoting public trust in the judicial system by evaluating judges through a permanent program established in September 1993 -- one of only 13 programs in the nation.
The evaluations rate their legal ability, judicial management skills, bearing and ability to settle cases, and gives judges feedback to help them improve.
All full-time judges and a limited number of per-diem judges have been evaluated at least once.
The latest group is also the first to meet individually with an evaluation review panel to go over the results and suggest improvement.
Also this month, the Judiciary began a pilot project to evaluate appellate judges and Supreme Court justices -- only the third state in the country to do so.
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