Circuit Court Denies TRO Against HSTA

A motion filed by Corey Rosenlee, Hawai’i State Teacher Association Director and candidate for president, for a temporary restraining order was denied on Friday by Circuit Court Judge Gary Chang.

Rosenlee said the restraining order was “sought to compel the HSTA’s Board of Directors to follow the HSTA’s own Bylaws.”

The motion was filed on Wednesday after Rosenlee alleged that the HSTA conducted an illegal vote that led to the rejection of the April HSTA election results and has led to a re-vote, which will be conducted on June 2.

On Friday, HSTA President Will Okabe responded to the judge’s decision in a statement:

“We are pleased that the Circuit Court has ruled in favor of the HSTA and denied the request for a temporary restraining order on the re-vote. This allows HSTA to continue to move forward with the re-vote on June 2 and ensure a fair election process that will allow all of our members an opportunity to vote.”

In response to the denied motion, Rosenlee said that he would continue his fight to hold the HSTA accountable to its members.

“Since no further court assistance is going to happen before next Tuesday’s re-vote, it is critical that all of HSTA’s members vote this coming Tuesday, June 2,” Rosenlee said in a statement. “Teachers need to make their voices heard.”