The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court recently convened at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Performing Arts Center to hear oral argument in State of Hawaiʻi v. Charles Zuffante.
As part of the Judiciary’s Courts in the Community program, over 250 students from five East Hawaiʻi high schools attended the session, which aims to enhance civic education and promote greater public understanding of the judicial system.
The participating 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. Students had the opportunity to observe real court proceedings and engage in a Q&A session with the justices following the argument.
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court launched the Courts in the Community program in 2012. To date, nearly 7,000 students across the state have participated.
State v. Zuffante (SCWC-23-0000376), involves legal issues arising from a traffic stop in Kona, Hawaiʻi. The case raises questions regarding the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements to police and the effectiveness of his legal counsel during trial.
In preparation for the event, volunteer attorneys from the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and local legal community visited participating classrooms to help students understand the appellate process and the legal issues involved in the case.
For more information about the Courts in the Community program, visit https://www.courts.state.hi.us.
Photo credit: Hawaiʻi State Judiciary