The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court held a session today at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Performing Arts Center, hearing oral argument in the case of State of Hawaiʻi v. Charles Zuffante. This event is a component of the Judiciary’s Courts in the Community program, which aims to improve civic education and deepen public understanding of the judicial system. Over 250 students from five East Hawaiʻi high schools attended the session.
The participating high schools included Hilo High School, Waiākea High School, Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School, Connections Public Charter School, and Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School. The students observed the court proceedings and participated in a question and answer session with the justices afterward.
Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald stated, "We are proud to bring the judicial process directly to students through Courts in the Community. It’s important that young people understand the role of the courts in our democracy and the values that underlie our system of justice." He highlighted the significance of including communities from neighbor islands in the initiative, noting, "This is the fifth time we have heard oral arguments on Hawaiʻi Island. We have also heard oral arguments on Maui and Kauaʻi. Providing students across the state with access to the Supreme Court is a vital part of our commitment to public education and transparency."
The Courts in the Community program started in 2012 and has seen participation from nearly 7,000 students across Hawaiʻi. Today's case, State v. Zuffante, deals with legal issues from a traffic stop in Kona, Hawaiʻi, specifically focusing on the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements to police and the effectiveness of his legal representation during trial.
Volunteer attorneys from the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and the local legal community prepared students by visiting classrooms to explain the appellate process and the legal issues involved in the case.
The Judiciary expressed gratitude to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo for hosting the event, as well as to the educators, attorneys, and volunteers who contributed to creating this valuable experience for students from East Hawaiʻi.
For more details about the Courts in the Community program, visit https://www.courts.state.hi.us.