Public First Law Center v. Hon. Morikone - Writ Petition Denied
Summary
The Hawaii Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of prohibition and mandamus filed by Public First Law Center challenging the Circuit Court's sealing of court records in a case involving Booking.com B.V. The court found the requested relief unwarranted, concluding the circuit court complied with sealing requirements established in State v. Rogan (2025).
What changed
The Hawaii Supreme Court denied Public First Law Center's petition challenging Judge Kevin T. Morikone's sealing of court records in case No. 1CTX-21-0001613 involving Booking.com B.V. The court applied the sealing requirements from State v. Rogan, 156 Hawai'i 233 (2025) and determined the circuit court did not fail to comply with those requirements.
No action is required by regulated entities. This is a final court order resolving a procedural challenge about sealing court records. The decision has no compliance deadlines and imposes no new obligations. Parties seeking to understand court sealing procedures should review the State v. Rogan standard referenced in this decision.
Source document (simplified)
Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCPW-25-0000419 30-MAR-2026 10:02 AM Dkt. 44 ODDP SCPW-25-0000419 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI PUBLIC FIRST LAW CENTER, Petitioner, vs. THE HONORABLE KEVIN T. MORIKONE, Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaiʻi, Respondent Judge, and BOOKING.COM B.V., Respondent. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (CASE NO. 1CTX-21-0001613) ORDER DENYING PETITION (By: McKenna, Acting C.J., Eddins, Ginoza, and Devens, JJ., and Circuit Judge Char, assigned by reason of vacancy) Upon consideration of the petition for writ of prohibition and writ of mandamus filed May 23, 2025, and the record, it appears that the requested relief is unwarranted. See Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP v. Kim, 153 Hawaiʻi 307, 319, 537 P.3d
1154, 1166 (2023). We are not persuaded that the circuit court failed to comply with the requirements for sealing a court record set forth in State v. Rogan, 156 Hawaiʻi 233, 243, 573 P.3d 616, 626 (2025). It is ordered that the petition is denied. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, March 30, 2026. /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Todd W. Eddins /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza /s/ Vladimir P. Devens /s/ Stephanie R.S. Char
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