HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0434.010 2000-2002 P~.ge 1 of 2
Fresrga: "JULY J,4~~~S~6eS" <jacota~~4~gea.org>
"~uart~ ~ a:rjoe¢~" <er~ayd0a~~~` ~aw~#t.rr.corr4>; <jacobs~hgea.org>
~~nt: Tc~adag~, ~cts~~:r 23, 20g i ~0:€~7 Rat
~a~I~~~t: esoa~on of ~~~ra~t ~ta3~ ~or~~bt~bon
To: I~Ias~~faii residents and friends of due process everywhere
From: J~.lie Jacobson, Ilawaii CountyCoucilmember, Puna-Kau-Kona ~~~tv ~--_Q__
Subject: I-Iawaii County Council Resolution 150-01 n~~s_._~.------
Relating to a legislati~7e proposal for inclusion in the 2001 I-Iawaii
Statc ~~sociation of Counties (I-IS~C) Legislative Package that would
amend the I-lawaii Co~°dstitution to allow direct ding of felony charges
and maksng implementing amendments to the I-Iawaii Revised Statutes.
aloha. This critical issue will be heard before the Hawaii County
Council on ~Ied. I~cc. 5, 2001 at 9 A.M in Kona at the King Kaa~nehameha
I~Iotcl. I~Qote that this resolution is not being heard at the committee
level anf41. was waived up to full Council. This resolution, if passed,
sends tl~e County Council's support for I~awaii State Senate I3i11996 and
997. S 996 and S13 997seek to amend the I-Iawaii State Constitution to
allow direct filing of felony charges. These bills would allow felony
charges to be filed zvithout the requirement of a grand jury or a
preliminary hewing: I believe that the due process provided by
prclim~nary hearings and grand jury procecdir~gs is vital to our system
of justice. These steps S:n ¢Qhe legal system are needed: to ensure
checks and balances ia~ flee process of detcriuining felony charges; to
prevent prosecutorial abuses; and to retain access to due process for
all socioeconomic ~a-oups.
I feel this legislation is a major erosion of our basic rights. I am
appalled that it is being waived through Ra~~ithout being heard in
can~.~nitt} I hope mate of you will choasc to express your opinion on
this issue. Though Resolution 150-01 rrnay not be defeated on ~Iednesday,
each le~cr and cash person t13at weighs in on the subject now helps set
the stage for the fight on SI3996 and Sf3 997 in the legislature. Niahalo
for your attention to this issue.
firing to problems with our scanner, I aan not able to attach a copy of
Resolution 150-O1, Sly 996, or S~ 997. If I can resolve this later, I
will send it out as soon as I can. (~~e had a modem eaten by lightening a
few days ago, .otherwise this would have been out earlier) Byway you
can con¢act the County Council office at: 961-5225 to obtain a copy of
the Res€~lution 150-O1 bills 996 and 997. You can fax your testimony to
the Couraciirneznbcrs at 961-5912. Picric join mein opposing this
resolution (Resolution-150-01). ~3~ :300_
Please forward this message to others who may share my concerns. My ~o' `
.def. l~a~
12/03/2001
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Page 2 of 2
email system is ill andT am missing a rnumber of our addresses. I wasn't
able to ge this broadcast as widely and as early as I wished.
1Vlahalo,
Julie
I ~/03/200I