State v. Dela Cruz - Certiorari Accepted, No Oral Argument

Hawaii Supreme Court

Filed April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Hawaii Supreme Court accepted a certiorari application in State v. Dela Cruz (SCWC-24-0000511), filed on February 12, 2026, and ordered that no oral argument will be heard. The intermediate court case number is CAAP-24-0000511 (1CPC-19-0001711). Parties have ten days to move for retention of oral argument under Rule 34(c).

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Hawaii Supreme Court accepted a writ of certiorari application filed by the State of Hawaii in a criminal case against Kai Dela Cruz (SCWC-24-0000511), originating from the Intermediate Court of Appeals (CAAP-24-0000511) and underlying Circuit Court case 1CPC-19-0001711. The court further ordered that no oral argument will be heard, departing from standard procedure.

Defense counsel and prosecutors should note that any party may move for retention of oral argument within ten days pursuant to Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 34(c). This order represents a procedural step in the appellate process and does not constitute a decision on the merits of the underlying criminal matter.

What to do next

Review the order and assess whether oral argument would benefit your client's position
File a motion for retention of oral argument under HRAP Rule 34(c) within ten days if oral argument is desired
Prepare written submissions consistent with the court's scheduling order

Source document (simplified)

Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCWC-24-0000511 01-APR-2026 01:01 PM Dkt. 18 OGAC

SCWC-24-0000511 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Petitioner/Plaintiff-Appellee, vs. KAI DELA CRUZ, Respondent/Defendant-Appellant. CERTIORARI TO THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS (CAAP-24-0000511; CASE NO. 1CPC-19-0001711) ORDER ACCEPTING APPLICATION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI (By: McKenna, Acting C.J., Ginoza, and Devens, JJ., Circuit Judge Malinao, in place of Eddins, J., recused, and Circuit Judge Kimura, assigned by reason of vacancy) Petitioner’s Application for Writ of Certiorari, filed on February 12, 2026, is hereby accepted. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no oral argument will be heard in this case. Any party may, within ten days and pursuant to Rule 34(c) of the Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure, move for retention of oral argument. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, April 1, 2026. /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza /s/ Vladimir P. Devens /s/ Clarissa Y. Malinao /s/ Jordon J. Kimura