Groups file motion Three organizations were to file a motion in Hawaii Supreme Court today supporting media efforts to overturn a trial court's order granting secrecy in proceedings involving Campbell Estate.
to open trust’s
court case
3 organizations join in the
effort against Campbell
Estate's closed hearingsStar-Bulletin staff
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Society of Professional Journalists and Radio-Television News Directors Association are asking the high court to allow them to intervene in the case and establish a procedure to allow anyone to challenge closure and sealing orders in all cases.
The case involves efforts by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and KITV-4 opposing Campbell Estate's request to hold a closed hearing to approve a settlement with its former law firm, Ashford & Wriston and cut off public access to court proceedings and documents in the case.
Attorney Carl Varady, representing the organizations that were to file the motion today, said the trial court's failure to grant a hearing to challenge the closure orders was "improper," adding that "this important right-to-know will be severely compromised and matters of great public importance involving one of the largest land trusts in Hawaii decided behind locked doors beyond public scrutiny."
Evan Shirley, the attorney for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and KITV, said, "the national interest and attention is deserved in this case because the trial judge's action is such a divergent view with the law in the United States in general." Ed Case, Campbell Estate's attorney, said he couldn't comment on the motion because of the litigation and court orders in the case.
He said at the time of the hearing that the settlement between the Campbell Estate and Ashford & Wriston contains a confidentiality clause.