JUSTICE MOON PROMOTES AN OPEN JUDICIARY

His State Of The Judiciary Address Focuses On New Programs, Commitment

Hawaii's Judiciary has come a long way in increasing public access and
dispelling the veil of secrecy that surrounds the court system, according
to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon. In his state of the Judiciary address
today, Moon tried to dispel the notion that Hawaii's courts are still
resolving disputes and operating the same way it has since the days of the
horse and buggy.

Innovative programs launched by the Judiciary making the courts more
accessible to users and litigants and increasing public confidence reflect
the Judiciary's "deep commitment to continually re-examine the way we do
business," he said.

The courts fight for those without a voice or the less-privileged,
"providing order, stability, and predictability to the capricious and
chaotic events of life," he said.

Calling the courts "a guardian of the architecture of democracy itself,"
Moon called on the Executive and Legislative branches to respect the
Judiciary's role to remain separate as essential to a democracy.

While the Judiciary is grateful for the adjustments made to judicial
salaries last session and is not seeking pay raises in the upcoming fiscal
biennium, Moon said the way judicial compensation is calculated now is
"fundamentally flawed" and should be changed. He urged lawmakers to ensure
that judges won't have to wait another 10 years for a raise. Hawaii's
courts, and courts nationwide, are looking at less traditional ways of
curbing crime, Moon said.

One example is the Hawaii Drug Court, which enables offenders who qualify
to undergo treatment and rehabilitation rather than go to jail. The program
saves taxpayers $600,000 to $800,000 a year, Moon said.

He said the program's success can be measured by its graduates, such as
Reyna Abordo. After years of addiction to crystal methamphetamine,
convictions for credit card fraud and drug offenses, and having her three
children taken away from her, Abordo graduated from the Drug Court program
after two years and for the past 4 1/2 years has remained drug-free. She is
now a manager for a local supermarket, was reunited with her children and
volunteers to work with women addicted to drugs.

The Judiciary is looking to expand the program to the Big Island and Kauai
after starting one on Maui last summer with support from the Legislature. A
juvenile drug court on Oahu is expected to begin in March.

Since the Ho'okele Court Navigation Project was begun in August, concierge
staff at District Court, Circuit Court and Family Court have helped more
than 20,000 users by explaining court procedures, directing them to the
proper courts or agencies and helping them fill out forms. The Judiciary
also works toward promoting public trust in the judicial system by
evaluating judges through a permanent program established in September 1993
- -- one of only 13 programs in the nation.

The evaluations rate their legal ability, judicial management skills,
bearing and ability to settle cases, and gives judges feedback to help them
improve.

All full-time judges and a limited number of per-diem judges have been
evaluated at least once. The latest group is also the first to meet
individually with an evaluation review panel to go over the results and
suggest improvement.

Also this month, the Judiciary began a pilot project to evaluate appellate
judges and Supreme Court justices -- only the third state in the country to
do so.