CASE SUMMARY

On February 23, 2022, a group of Hawaii voters filed a petition with the Hawaii Supreme Court challenging the 2021 Hawaii Reapportionment Commission’s adopted legislative redistricting plan as violating the Hawaii Constitution’s and state law’s requirements that state House districts be nested within state Senate districts and legislative districts within congressional districts, respectively. They also claimed the Commission unconstitutionally delegated much of their duties to a “technical committee” which hindered the public’s ability to view and assess the Commission’s work. They sought a declaratory judgment that the plan was invalid, a writ of mandamus requiring the chief election officer to rescind the plan and directing the Commission to file a new plan, and a temporary injunction barring the candidate nomination process from proceeding under the map.

  • On February 24, 2022, the Court temporarily enjoined the nominating process pending resolution of the petition.
  • On March 16, 2022, the Court denied the petition and terminated its temporary injunction, stating an opinion would be forthcoming.

CASE LIBRARY

Hawaii Supreme Court - No. SCPW-22-78