Appeal of newspaper suit falters

By Star-Advertiser staff

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 29, 2012

~~<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
~~

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. Login for more...