Honolulu Civil Beat and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser challenged the Honolulu Police Commission’s policy to close contested case proceedings to the public without following the procedural and substantive First Amendment standards established by the Hawaii Supreme Court.  The Court denied the petition because the Commission’s policy had not yet been used to exclude members of the public from contested case proceedings. No. SCPW-17-661.

After the petition for mandamus, the Commission adopted a rule–contrary to its previously adopted policy–to conduct contested case proceedings in accordance with First Amendment standards.

• Petition for Writ of Mandamus (9/11/17)
  • Declaration of R. Brian Black
  • Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• Answer to Petition for Writ of Mandamus (10/9/17)
• Order Denying Petition for Writ of Mandamus (10/24/17)