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Criminal Justice

Foley hails Legislature’s inroads on corruption

The recently concluded 2023 legislative session might have been disappointing on many fronts. But not all was doom and gloom. According to retired Judge Dan Foley, meaningful progress was made in the fight to improve transparency and accountability in our government.  On the latest episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech

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SB926 SD1: ‘Reasonable care’ should be enough to cross the street

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the ouse Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs on March 16, 2023. ___________ March 16, 2023 2 p.m. Conference Room 325 and Via Videoconference To: House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs        Rep. David

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SB875: Forfeiture bill would give counties dangerous power

The following testimony was presented Feb. 24, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. ___________ February 24, 2023 9:30 a.m. Conference Room 430 and via videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary        Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair        Senator Mike Gabbard,

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SB926: Trust adults to safely cross the street

The following testimony was presented Feb. 16, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. ___________ February 16, 2023 9:30 a.m. Conference Room 016 and Via Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary       Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair       Senator Mike Gabbard,

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The ‘mailbox conspiracy’ and what it says about corruption in Hawaii

Hawaii doesn’t have any more or less corruption than any other part of the country, but it does lack whistleblowers and introspection, which makes combating corruption so difficult, according to retired federal public defender Alexander Silvert. Silvert represented a man falsely accused of felony theft of a mailbox by former

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Testimony — SB294, relating to property forfeiture

The following is testimony that was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on Feb. 2, 2021, for consideration by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Judiciary. _________________ To: Senate Committee on Judiciary Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Joe Kent, Executive Vice President Re:

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Government accountability scores a victory at Legislature

It was a victory for government accountability and transparency when the Hawaii Legislature approved a bill authorizing the disclosure to lawmakers of the identities of police officers suspended or fired for misconduct. Earlier that same day, Monday, July 5, 2020, University of Hawaii communications professor Gerald Kato had discussed the bill, House Bill 285 on Keli’i

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Grassroot Institute testifies on asset forfeiture reform

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii – HB2069 Testimony February 13, 2020 2:05 p.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 325 To: House Committee on Judiciary Rep. Chris Lee, Chair Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Joe Kent, Executive Vice President Re: HB2069 — RELATING TO PROPERTY

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‘Life, liberty and … property’

Happy Fourth of July! I hope that you are enjoying the holiday and the blessings of liberty. Of course, when we talk about liberty and rights, we usually start with glamorous ones, like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms and the right to privacy. But there’s a less-flashy

Read More →

Foley hails Legislature’s inroads on corruption

The recently concluded 2023 legislative session might have been disappointing on many fronts. But not all was doom and gloom. According to retired Judge Dan Foley, meaningful progress was made in the fight to improve transparency and accountability in our government.  On the latest episode of “Hawaii Together” on ThinkTech

Read More →

SB926 SD1: ‘Reasonable care’ should be enough to cross the street

The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the ouse Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs on March 16, 2023. ___________ March 16, 2023 2 p.m. Conference Room 325 and Via Videoconference To: House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs        Rep. David

Read More →

SB875: Forfeiture bill would give counties dangerous power

The following testimony was presented Feb. 24, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. ___________ February 24, 2023 9:30 a.m. Conference Room 430 and via videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary        Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair        Senator Mike Gabbard,

Read More →

SB926: Trust adults to safely cross the street

The following testimony was presented Feb. 16, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. ___________ February 16, 2023 9:30 a.m. Conference Room 016 and Via Videoconference To: Senate Committee on Judiciary       Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair       Senator Mike Gabbard,

Read More →

The ‘mailbox conspiracy’ and what it says about corruption in Hawaii

Hawaii doesn’t have any more or less corruption than any other part of the country, but it does lack whistleblowers and introspection, which makes combating corruption so difficult, according to retired federal public defender Alexander Silvert. Silvert represented a man falsely accused of felony theft of a mailbox by former

Read More →

Testimony — SB294, relating to property forfeiture

The following is testimony that was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii on Feb. 2, 2021, for consideration by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Judiciary. _________________ To: Senate Committee on Judiciary Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Joe Kent, Executive Vice President Re:

Read More →

Government accountability scores a victory at Legislature

It was a victory for government accountability and transparency when the Hawaii Legislature approved a bill authorizing the disclosure to lawmakers of the identities of police officers suspended or fired for misconduct. Earlier that same day, Monday, July 5, 2020, University of Hawaii communications professor Gerald Kato had discussed the bill, House Bill 285 on Keli’i

Read More →

Grassroot Institute testifies on asset forfeiture reform

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii – HB2069 Testimony February 13, 2020 2:05 p.m. Hawaii State Capitol Conference Room 325 To: House Committee on Judiciary Rep. Chris Lee, Chair Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Vice Chair From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii Joe Kent, Executive Vice President Re: HB2069 — RELATING TO PROPERTY

Read More →

‘Life, liberty and … property’

Happy Fourth of July! I hope that you are enjoying the holiday and the blessings of liberty. Of course, when we talk about liberty and rights, we usually start with glamorous ones, like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms and the right to privacy. But there’s a less-flashy

Read More →