Bill > HB399

This bill amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 604-1 to increase the number of district court judges in the First Judicial Circuit from fourteen to fifteen judges. The change adds a fifteenth judge to the District Court of the First Circuit, which serves the Honolulu area. The bill maintains the existing provisions that allow the chief justice to designate an administrative judge for each circuit and to authorize judges to substitute or act in place of other judges when case volume or urgency requires. The bill also slightly modifies language about where district courts can hold sessions, changing "such places" to "any place" in their respective circuits, which provides more flexibility in judicial proceedings. The new judge will be styled as the fifteenth judge and can be assigned to various duties, including potentially handling landlord-tenant and small claims matters. The act will take effect immediately upon approval, allowing for the immediate appointment of the additional judge to help manage the court's caseload in the First Judicial Circuit.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=399&year=2025