2009 Hawaii Code
Volume 13
TITLE 32 - COURTS AND COURT OFFICERS
CHAPTER 602 - COURTS OF APPEAL
§602-5 - Jurisdiction and powers; filing.

     §602-5  Jurisdiction and powers; filing.  [L 2004, c 202, §55 amendment repealed June 30, 2010.  L 2006, c 94, §1.]  (a)  The supreme court shall have jurisdiction and powers as follows:

     (1)  To hear and determine all questions of law, or of mixed law and fact, which are properly brought before it by application for a writ of certiorari to the intermediate appellate court or by transfer as provided in this chapter;

     (2)  To answer, in its discretion, any question of law reserved by a circuit court, the land court, or the tax appeal court, or any question or proposition of law certified to it by a federal district or appellate court if the supreme court shall so provide by rule;

     (3)  To exercise original jurisdiction in all questions arising under writs directed to courts of inferior jurisdiction and returnable before the supreme court, or if the supreme court consents to receive the case arising under writs of mandamus directed to public officers to compel them to fulfill the duties of their offices; and such other original jurisdiction as may be expressly conferred by law;

     (4)  To issue writs of habeas corpus, or orders to show cause as provided by chapter 660, returnable before the supreme court or a circuit court, and any justice may issue writs of habeas corpus or such orders to show cause, returnable as above stated;

     (5)  To make or issue any order or writ necessary or appropriate in aid of its jurisdiction, and in such case, any justice may issue a writ or an order to show cause returnable before the supreme court; and

     (6)  To make and award such judgments, decrees, orders and mandates, issue such executions and other processes, and do such other acts and take such other steps as may be necessary to carry into full effect the powers which are or shall be given to it by law or for the promotion of justice in matters pending before it.

    (b)  All cases addressed to the jurisdiction of the supreme court or of the intermediate appellate court shall be filed with the clerk of the supreme court as provided by the rules of court.  The clerk shall maintain the record of each case whether addressed to the jurisdiction of the supreme court or the jurisdiction of the intermediate appellate court. [L 1892, c 57, §51; RL 1925, §2224; RL 1935, §3593; RL 1945, §9604; RL 1955, §214-4; HRS §602-5; am L 1972, c 88, §2(b); am L 1979, c 111, pt of §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 199, §1; am L 2004, c 202, §55]

 

Note

 

  L 2004, c 202, §82 provides:

  "SECTION 82.  Appeals pending in the supreme court as of the effective date of this Act [July 1, 2006] may be transferred to the intermediate appellate court or retained at the supreme court as the chief justice, in the chief justice's sole discretion, directs."

 

Rules of Court

 

  Power of supreme court to preserve status quo or effectiveness of the judgment subsequently to be entered, see HRCP rule 62(g).

  Certification of questions by federal courts, see HRAP rule 13.

  Questions of law reserved, see HRAP rule 15.

  Writs, see HRAP rule 21.

 

Law Journals and Reviews

 

  Judicial Legislation in the Supreme Court of Hawaii:  A Brief Introduction to the "Knowne Uncertaintie" of the Law.  7 HBJ 58.

  Judicial Legislation in the Supreme Court of Hawaii:  A Brief Introduction to the "Felt Necessities of the Time."  8 HBJ 77.

  Contemporary Contempt:  The State of the Law in Hawaii.  I HBJ No. 13, at pg. 59.

  Through the Looking Glass--Finality, Interlocutory Appeals and the Hawaii Supreme Court's Supervisory Powers.  9 UH L. Rev. 87.

  Reversals of Fortune:  The Hawaii Supreme Court, the Memorandum Opinion, and the Realignment of Political Power in Post-statehood Hawai`i.  14 UH L. Rev. 17.

 

Case Notes

 

Generally.

  The inherent power of the supreme court to make orders "for the promotion of justice" under paragraph (7) required that motorist be given an opportunity to challenge the lifetime revocation of motorist's license where one of the three predicate convictions on which revocation had been based had been set aside; motorist was thus entitled to have district court amend motorist's revocation period pursuant to §286-261 upon the presentation of proof that motorist's driving record no longer supported the revocation period imposed.  94 H. 232, 11 P.3d 457.

  Section 174C-60 is inconsistent with and cannot stand together with this section and §602-57, as amended by Act 202, L 2004, and was deemed amended by implication, effective July 1, 2006, to authorize appeals from the water commission to the intermediate appellate court, not to the supreme court.  113 H. 52, 147 P.3d 836.

 

Jurisdiction.

  Where Congress has not expressly set out exclusive jurisdiction, state courts are competent to decide federal claims.  437 F. Supp. 368.

  No original jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus directed to individuals, 22 H. 589; nor in election contests, 15 H. 323.  See also 23 H. 387, 407.  That supreme court will not determine moot question, see 23 H. 387, 406; 25 H. 51; 26 H. 173; 32 H. 818; 33 H. 278; 35 H. 565, also note appended to chapter 641, pt. I A3e.  As to habeas corpus.  26 H. 363.  Question of jurisdiction of subject matter can be raised for first time on appeal.  36 H. 75.  Lack of jurisdiction cannot be waived or jurisdiction conferred by agreement of parties.  40 H. 475; 57 H. 133, 552 P.2d 75.

  Court will not generally decide moot questions of law, but exception is made where questions affect the public interest.  50 H. 379, 441 P.2d 138; 59 H. 244, 580 P.2d 405; 62 H. 391, 616 P.2d 201.

  Supreme court does not have original jurisdiction of writ of prohibition directed against prosecutors.  51 H. 589, 465 P.2d 549.

  Supreme court has no original jurisdiction to issue mandamus to an individual.  54 H. 274, 506 P.2d 8.

  Supreme court does not have jurisdiction for an appeal from interlocutory orders of the district courts in criminal cases.  57 H. 133, 552 P.2d 75.

  Court would not entertain application for writ of prohibition on grounds not presented in the trial court.  57 H. 284, 554 P.2d 1128.

  Without a special reason appellate court will not exercise its original jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings when relief is available in a lower court.  57 H. 411, 557 P.2d 787.

  Cited as supporting claim that supreme court has jurisdiction to determine validity of constitutional amendment procedures.  60 H. 324, 590 P.2d 543.

  Court had jurisdiction over action seeking to enjoin chief election officer from placing proposed constitutional amendments on election ballot.  73 H. 536, 836 P.2d 1066.

  Jurisdiction properly lies in supreme court to hear and determine appeals from district court judgments after an administrative hearing, pursuant to paragraph (1) and §641-1(a).  75 H. 1, 856 P.2d 1207.

  Where defendant's interlocutory appeal from district court's denial of defendant's motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds did not satisfy prerequisites of collateral order exception, supreme court did not have to decide whether exception may apply to appeals from collateral orders of district court.  82 H. 446, 923 P.2d 388.

  Discussed:  875 F. Supp. 680.

 

Powers.

  Judgment of territorial supreme court, affirmed by U.S. Court of Appeals, was binding on supreme court of Hawaii.  441 F. Supp. 559.

  Inherent power to preserve status quo pending appeal.  18 H. 269, 270; 42 H. 192.  Granting of injunction to preserve status quo pending appeal.  51 H. 480, 463 P.2d 530.

  Supreme court has no power to amend a so-called record of a district court on appeal.  19 H. 187; cited 24 H. 600, 605.  A motion for such amendment should be presented to the district court.  19 H. 317; 24 H. 600, 605.

  Applied:  mandamus in aid of appellate jurisdiction.  54 H. 294, 506 P.2d 444.

  Under paragraph (7), in the promotion of justice, supreme court has power to reduce fines for civil contempt.  55 H. 386, 520 P.2d 422.  Judgment vacated for promotion of justice.  56 H. 170, 532 P.2d 391.

  Supreme court cannot disregard jurisdictional defects in an appeal.  57 H. 61, 549 P.2d 477.

  Where circuit court exceeded its authority, writ of prohibition by supreme court held proper remedy.  57 H. 289, 554 P.2d 1131.

  No cross appeal is necessary for appellate court to review a question closely related to a question raised on appeal.  57 H. 599, 561 P.2d 1286.

  Prohibition, when granted, res judicata.  59 H. 224, 580 P.2d 49.

  Prohibition, issuance.  59 H. 237, 580 P.2d 58; 67 H. 259, 686 P.2d 16.

  Paragraph (7) cited in directing a different judge to hear a case on remand.  59 H. 592, 585 P.2d 1259.

  Standard for issuance of mandamus.  64 H. 307, 640 P.2d 289.

  Where chief justice did not have duty to administer oath of office, mandamus against chief justice did not lie; thus, petition for writ of mandamus denied.  76 H. 273, 874 P.2d 1098.

  Cited: 76 H. 396, 879 P.2d 501.

  Mentioned:  79 H. 26, 897 P.2d 953.

 

Counsel fees.

  After an appeal has been perfected the supreme court has power to require a husband to advance to a wife necessary attorney's fee in divorce.  25 H. 793, 797.  Section 580-9 applies to the supreme court.  30 H. 61, 65.  Distinguished in 30 H. 80, 90.

  No jurisdiction to award attorneys' fees for services on appeal in probate case, 43 H. 171, or under a contractual provision, 43 H. 316.  No jurisdiction to award attorney's fees under a contractual provision.  52 H. 124, 471 P.2d 529.

  Cited:  76 H. 396, 879 P.2d 501.

 

Support money pending appeal.

  35 H. 382.

 

Rehearing.

  Principles stated as to circumstances under which a motion for a rehearing will be granted.  10 H. 338, 345; cited 25 H. 776.  See 33 H. 632; 35 H. 252; 35 H. 349; 40 H. 640; 40 H. 734; 42 H. 352; 44 H. 684, 361 P.2d 383; 47 H. 466, 471, 390 P.2d 737; 48 H. 149, 151, 396 P.2d 826; 49 H. 267, 269, 414 P.2d 428; 49 H. 574, 423 P.2d 437; 50 H. 40, 429 P.2d 829.

  Further hearing granted after decision on point not previously argued.  10 H. 338.  Question not jurisdictional and not raised by pleadings or in appellant's specifications of error nor in their brief comes too late when presented for first time during oral argument.  25 H. 438, 444, aff'd 269 F. 751.  Rehearing denied on immaterial issue, 28 H. 157; but see dissent; 28 H. 208; 28 H. 383.  See 33 H. 632; 34 H. 8; 35 H. 349; 35 H. 545; 36 H. 230; 36 H. 710; 49 H. 267, 271, note 4, 414 P.2d 428.