Peer News LLC v. City & County of Honolulu
Online publication Civil Beat challenged the City Department of Budget & Fiscal Service’s denial of access to formal inter-agency memoranda that are part of the City’s budget process. The case questions whether Hawai`i law permits agencies to withhold all record of government deliberations under a “deliberative process privilege.” On February 5, 2016, Judge Virginia Crandall entered judgment upholding the City’s use of the deliberative process privilege. Civil No. 15-1-0891-05 VLC. Civil Beat sought to have its appeal heard by the Hawai`i Supreme Court, which accepted the case on October 12, 2016. The Supreme Court heard oral argument on June 1, 2017. Supreme Court No. SCAP-16-114, ICA No. CAAP-16-114. On December 21, 2018, the Hawai`i Supreme Court held that the deliberative process privilege is not a basis for withholding records under the Hawai`i public records law.
- Complaint (5/8/15)
- Answer (6/1/15)
- Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
- Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (6/5/15)
- Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (7/20/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (7/24/15)
- Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (7/23/15)
- Order Denying Summary Judgment (9/21/15)
- Plaintiff’s Motion to Expedite Proceeding
- Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law (8/18/15)
- Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Memorandum in Opposition (8/27/15)
- Plaintiff’s Reply Memorandum (9/1/15)
- Order Granting in Part Motion to Expedite Proceeding (10/6/15)
- Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment
- Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count I) (10/19/15)
- Defendants’ Motion & Memorandum of Law (Count II) (10/19/15)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (10/19/15)
- Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count I) (11/13/15)
- Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion & Memorandum (Count II) (11/13/15)
- Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count I) (11/25/15)
- Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion (Count II) (11/25/15)
- Plaintiff’s Combined Reply Memorandum (Count I & II) (11/30/15)
- Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count I) (11/30/15)
- Defendants’ Reply Memorandum (Count II) (11/30/15)
- Orders Granting Defendants’ Motions/Denying Plaintiffs’ Motions (1/13/16)
- Final Judgment (2/5/16)
- Notice of Appeal (2/29/16)
- Record on Appeal (Part I)
- Record on Appeal (Part II)
- OIP Notice of Intention Not to File Answering Brief (4/21/16)
- Civil Beat’s Opening Brief (5/2/16)
- State of Hawaii’s Amicus Curiae Brief (6/13/16)
- City’s Answering Brief (7/27/16)
- Civil Beat’s Reply Brief (8/22/16)
- Application for Transfer (9/9/16)
- Order Granting Application for Transfer (10/12/16)
- Oral Argument (audio) (6/1/17)
- Opinion (12/21/18)
- Dissenting Opinion (12/21/18)
- Request for Attorney’s Fees & Costs on Appeal (1/7/19)
- Memorandum in Support (1/7/19)
- City’s Opposition to Request for Fees (1/17/19)
- Reply Memorandum in Support (1/22/19)
- Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Request for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (2/26/19)
- Judgment on Appeal (3/13/19)