Aiona, Tupai call for special legislative session to address criminal justice issue
Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona and running mate Seaula Jr. Tupai are calling on Gov. David Ige and Lt. Gov. Josh Green to convene a special legislative session to address issues raised by the Hawaii Supreme Court’s controversial ruling in State v. Obrero earlier this month.
“The Hawaii Supreme Court ruling in State v. Obrero limits a prosecutor’s ability to charge certain felony offenses, such as murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery, to Grand Jury Indictments,” Aiona and Tupai said in a statement released by Friends of Duke Aiona on Wednesday. “As a result of this ruling, Hawaii’s prosecutors have stated that hundreds of alleged felons, which include at least 25 murder and attempted murder and 40 robbery cases on Oahu, could be released into the community. However, this criminal justice and public safety emergency can be resolved through immediate legislative action.
