Graham v. State

• Decision Date: 15 July 2022
• Docket Number: SCPW-22-0000431
• Parties: GARRETH A. GRAHAM, Petitioner, v. FIRST CIRCUIT COURT, STATE OF HAWAI'I, Respondent.
• Court: Hawaii Supreme Court

GARRETH A. GRAHAM, Petitioner, v. FIRST CIRCUIT COURT, STATE OF HAWAI'I, Respondent.

No. SCPW-22-0000431

Supreme Court of Hawaii

July 15, 2022

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (CASE NO. 1CPN-19-0000005)

Recktenwald, C.J., Nakayama, McKenna, Wilson, and Eddins, JJ.

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Upon consideration of petitioner Garreth A. Graham's petition for writ of mandamus, filed July 6, 2022, the documents attached and submitted in support, and the record, the circuit court's findings of fact and conclusions of law are within the January 28, 2022 order dismissing Graham's Hawai'i Rules of Penal Procedure (HRPP) Rule 40 petition, and Graham has alternative means to seek relief by making an appropriate request in the circuit court. See HRPP Rule 49(d) ("A party who has failed to receive due notice or to be served, or who has been prejudiced by reason that service was made by mail or facsimile transmission, may apply to the court for appropriate relief."). An extraordinary writ is thus not warranted. See Kema v. Gaddis, 91 Hawai'i 200, 204, 982 P.2d 334, 338 (1999) (observing that a writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that will not issue unless the petitioner demonstrates a clear and indisputable right to relief and a lack of alternative means to redress adequately the alleged wrong or obtain the requested action); Barnett v. Broderick, 84 Hawai'i 109, 111, 929 P.2d 1359, 1361 (1996) (observing that mandamus relief is available to compel an official to perform a duty allegedly owed to an individual only if the individual's claim is clear and certain, the official's duty is ministerial and so plainly prescribed as to be free from doubt, and no other remedy is available). Accordingly, It is ordered that the petition for writ of mandamus is denied.

It is further ordered that the appellate court clerk shall process the petition without payment of the filing fee.