On April 14, 2021, police officers with the Honolulu Police Department fatally shot Lindani Myeni. After his widow filed a civil lawsuit against the City & County of Honolulu, the City moved for an expansive protective order that would permit the City to withhold any records related to Mr. Myeni’s death pending the completion of an investigation, relying on its misinterpretation of the public records law. The Law Center moved to file an amicus curiae–friend of the court–brief explaining the standards and limitations of the exceptions to the public records law. No. 1CCV-21-504. The case was assigned to Judge James H. Ashford; the motion for protective order was assigned to Judge Dean E. Ochiai. On May 25, Judge Ochiai held a hearing on the motion for protective order, made clear that discovery standards–not the public records standards–would apply, and granted in part and denied in part the City’s motion.
- Complaint (4/22/21)
- Answer (5/14/21)
- City’s Motion for Protective Order (5/13/21)
- CBLC Motion for Leave to File Amicus Curiae Memorandum (5/17/21)
- City’s Opposition to Motion for Leave (5/24/21)
- CBLC Reply in Support of Motion (5/24/21)
- Plaintiff’s Statement of No Opposition (5/26/21)