Appeal of newspaper suit falters

The state appeals court has dismissed Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s appeal of the award of nearly $70,000 in attorney fees and costs to the Star-Advertiser for prevailing in its lawsuit seeking the release of the names of judicial candidates.

The court ruled Thursday that the appeal is "premature" because Circuit Judge Karl Saka­moto’s judgment did not meet court requirements as an "appealable final judgment." Without that final judgment, the appeals court does not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal, the court said.

First Deputy Attorney General Russell Suzuki said the office is "reviewing and considering appropriate next steps."

Sakamoto awarded the newspaper fees and costs in July. He ruled earlier in favor of the Star-Advertiser under the state open-records law and ordered the governor to disclose the names of judicial finalists submitted to him by the state Judicial Selection Commission. The governor makes judicial appointments from the lists.

Abercrombie had refused to release the names, saying it would discourage applicants if they know their names might be made public.

The commission now discloses the names on its own.