Recktenwald seeks Kona facility, veterans program

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is asking state lawmakers for $90 million to construct a new Kona courthouse on Hawaii island, funding for a military veteran treatment program and 16 additional deputy sheriff positions for courthouse security.

The chief justice’s requests were in his State of Judiciary address, released Wednesday, outlining goals and developments within the state’s third branch of government.

Recktenwald’s remarks were posted on the Judiciary’s new YouTube channel after legislative leaders turned down his request to deliver the address during a joint session at the state Capitol.

He said his understanding was that the denial was based on a "scheduling issue," and his impression was that it was partly related to this year’s reorganization of the legislative leadership.

The speech was the first by a Hawaii chief justice delivered through social media.

In it, Recktenwald said state chief justices have been presenting a report to the Legislature for at least 160 years.

But it wasn’t until 1997 that the chief justice — at the invitation of state lawmakers as a courtesy to the head of the Judiciary — delivered the remarks in person to a joint legislative session.

Recktenwald’s predecessor, Ronald Moon, gave the first presentation. Previously, the chief justice’s State of the Judiciary address was delivered to the Hawaii State Bar Association.

"It’s a very long-standing tradition that we submit a report," Recktenwald told the Star-Advertiser Thursday. "More recently we do it in person."

Senate President Donna Kim said there were several reasons she decided not to accommodate the chief justice’s request.

She said the reorganization was part of the reason, but a joint session for the speech would have required costs and blocking off two hours of the legislators’ time when they were facing other pressing concerns.

In his speech, Recktenwald did not mention the dollar figure for the requests.

But the amounts are $90 million for the Kona courthouse, about $500,000 for the veterans court and $1.3 million for the deputy sheriff positions for fiscal year 2014 and 2015, according to the state Judiciary.

He said the Judiciary has been able to deal with an operating budget that’s 10 percent less than in 2009 through innovation and bringing people together to deal with challenges.

He cited volunteer attorneys at self-help centers that have helped more than 1,000 people who represent themselves in court cases, at almost no cost to the public.

Recktenwald underscored the need for a Kona courthouse by noting that the cases are heard at three different locations.

"The time has come to provide Kona with a secure, efficient and modern court facility," he said.

On this issue of veterans, Recktenwald said many come into the criminal justice system with substance abuse or mental problems or both, or face "unique challenges" related to military service.

Veteran treatment courts, he said, have been effective around the country in providing services and intense supervision. A pilot project here accepted three veterans this month, and Recktenwald is asking state lawmakers to provide funds to expand the program. He later said he hopes to have at least 30 veterans in the program.

In supporting a request by the Department of Public Safety for more deputy sheriff positions, Recktenwald said deputies perform a "great job" in providing courthouse security but are "stretched too thin."