State v Roberts III - Traffic Infraction Appeal Affirmed
Summary
The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's judgment against Charles Fredrick Roberts III for a traffic infraction, fining him $40. The appellate court noted the lack of a sufficient record, specifically a transcript of proceedings, to review Roberts' claims of error regarding a motion to suppress, judicial bias, and prosecutorial misconduct.
What changed
The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court's judgment against self-represented appellant Charles Fredrick Roberts III concerning a traffic infraction. The district court had previously entered judgment in favor of the State of Hawaiʻi and imposed a $40 fine. Roberts appealed, raising issues related to a motion to suppress, judicial bias, and prosecutorial misconduct.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment due to an inadequate appellate record, specifically the absence of a transcript of the proceedings. Citing Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 10(b)(1)(A) and Bettencourt v. Bettencourt, the court stated that the appellant bears the burden of providing an adequate record to demonstrate error. As a result, Roberts' appeal could not be reviewed on its merits.
What to do next
- Review appellate record requirements for future appeals.
- Ensure all relevant proceedings are transcribed for appeals.
Penalties
Fine of $40
Source document (simplified)
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-24-0000822 25-MAR-2026 07:50 AM Dkt. 123 SO NO. CAAP-24-0000822 IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE S TATE OF HAWAIʻI STATE OF HAWAIʻI, Plaintiff-Appellee,
CHARLES FREDRICK R OBERTS, III, Defendant-Appellant APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT KĀNEʻOHE DIVISION (CASE NO. 1DTI-24-094777) SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Nakasone, Chief Judge, McCullen and Guidry, JJ.) Self-represented Defendant-Appellant Charles Fredrick Roberts III (Roberts) appeals from the District Court of the First Circuit's (district court) November 27, 2024 "Notice of 1 Entry of Judgment and/or Order and Plea/Judgment" (Judgment). 2 On September 22, 2024, Plaintiff-Appellee State of Hawaiʻi (State) issued a Notice of Traffic Infraction pursuant to
The Honorable Alvin K. Nishimura presided. 1 We construe Roberts' "Motion for Leave to Appeal In Form [sic] 2 Pauperis" as his notice of appeal.
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 291D-5 (2020). Following a hearing on October 22, 2024, and trial de novo on November 27, 2024, the district court entered Judgment in favor of the State and fined Roberts $40. On appeal, Roberts raises three points of error, contending that the district court erred: (1) by "enter[ing] a final judgment in this case without first deciding on [his] motion to suppress"; (2) "in making substantive findings on the merits of the [S]tate's witness, that was a part of their ruling that was used to dismiss [the] case" thus demonstrating judicial "personal bias"; and (3) because "the prosecutorial misconduct [was not] harmless beyond a reasonable doubt." Upon careful review of the record, briefs, and relevant legal authorities, we affirm the Judgment. We note that there are no transcripts of proceedings for the record on appeal, and we therefore lack a sufficient record to review the alleged errors. See Bettencourt v. Bettencourt, 80 Hawaiʻi 225, 230, 909 P.2d 553, 558 (1995) ("The burden is upon appellant in an appeal to show error by reference to matters in the record, and he or she has the responsibility of providing an adequate transcript." (cleaned up)); see also Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 10(b)(1)(A) ("When an appellant desires to raise any point on appeal that requires consideration of the oral
proceedings before the court appealed from, the appellant shall file . . . a request or requests to prepare a reporter's transcript of such parts of the proceedings as the appellant deems necessary that are not al ready o n file in the appeal."). We therefore affirm the Judgment. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, March 25, 2026. On the briefs: /s/ Karen T. Nakasone Chief Judge Charles Fredrick Roberts III, Self-Represented /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen Defendant-Appellant. Associate Judge Brian R. Vincent, /s/ Ki mberly T. Guidry Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Associate Judge City and County of Honolulu, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
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