State v. Lopez Ruiz — Hawaii Supreme Court accepts State’s certiorari application

Case
State of Hawaiʻi v. Indira D. Lopez Ruiz
Court
Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi
Judge
Devens, C.J.; McKenna, J.; Eddins, J.; Ginoza, J.; Circuit Judge Hamman
Date Decided
August 24, 2026
Docket No.
SCWC-24-0000157
Topics
certiorari; criminal procedure; appellate review
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

The State of Hawaiʻi petitioned the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari in its case against Indira D. Lopez Ruiz. The case reached the court from the Intermediate Court of Appeals, docketed there as CAAP-24-0000157, and originated in the District Court of the First Circuit as 1DCW-23-0003793.

The order does not describe the underlying charges, the Intermediate Court of Appeals’ decision, or the legal question presented by the State’s application.

The Court’s Holding

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court accepted the State’s June 30, 2026 application for a writ of certiorari under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes § 602-59(a).

The court also ordered that it would not hear oral argument unless a party timely moved to retain it under Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 34(c). The order did not resolve the merits of the case.

Key Takeaways

  • The supreme court agreed to review the State’s certiorari application.
  • The order is procedural and does not decide the underlying dispute.
  • Oral argument will not occur absent a timely motion to retain it.

Why It Matters

Acceptance of certiorari places the Intermediate Court of Appeals matter before Hawaiʻi’s highest court for further review. But the order provides no indication of how the court will rule on the merits or what issue prompted review.

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