UDPATE 3: Supreme Court Hears Travel Ban Arguments

UPDATE 3: April 25, 2018, 3:30 p.m.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono rallied with Karen Korematsu, civil rights groups and activists at the Supreme Court after the Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. Hawaii—a case that will determine the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, said a press release from the office of Sen. Mazie Hirono.

“If the Supreme Court allows this action by this president to stand, my fear is we don’t know what he will do next to hurt other immigrant or minority communities,” Sen. Hirono said. “This is no time to give up and I will continue to fight against this administration’s divisive and discriminatory actions.”

Earlier this year, Sen. Hirono joined 31 Senators in signing an amicus brief in support of the State of Hawaii’s case against the Muslim ban.

Sen. Hirono and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined together to successfully petition the Supreme Court to release same-day audio of oral arguments in the Trump v. Hawaii case.Click here to download the file.

UPDATE 2, April 25, 3:24 p.m.

Gov. David Ige released the following statement about arguments made at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Trump Administration’s Travel Ban 3.0.

“The U.S. Supreme Court heard heated arguments on Travel Ban 3.0 today. We hope the court makes the right decision—that the ban violates the U.S. Constitution’s command against religious discrimination. As we await the court’s ruling on this contentious issue, I can assure you that I will do all I can to continue to reinforce Hawai‘i’s values of inclusion and diversity. There is no room for discrimination. The aloha spirit will prevail.”

ORIGINAL POST PLUS UPDATE 1, April 25

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments today, Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Hawai‘i’s challenge to the third iteration of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, Hawaii v. Trump.

This case was originally filed in the federal District Court for the District of Hawai‘i in February 2017, and at first concerned the litigation about the second travel ban.

In October 2017, Judge Derrick K. Watson halted implementation of the third travel ban and this ruling was upheld on appeal by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2017.

Dozens of amicus (friend of the court) briefs were filed in support of the state’s case, representing a wide swath of American life, including civil rights organizations, religious organizations, universities, cities, other states, former national security officials and numerous law professors, among others.

“We are gratified by the court’s careful attention to the case,” said Hawai‘i Attorney General Russell A. Suzuki. “This is an important day for the rule of law. We are so grateful for Hogan Lovells’ extraordinary year-long pro bono commitment to this case.”

Hawai‘i Lt. Gov. Doug Chin attended the travel ban arguments and released this statement:

“Today, the people of Hawai‘i called on our nation’s highest court to make clear that as president of the United States, Donald Trump cannot operate as though he is above the law and cannot willfully ignore the rule of law. Our nation with its promise of opportunity, equality, and justice, cannot allow this illegal and unconstitutional travel ban to endure. The travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump keeps Hawai‘i families apart, and degrades our values and morality by subjecting a specific set of people to intolerable discrimination and second-class treatment. I appreciate the justices’ obvious preparation and thoughtful questions.”

Prior to becoming lieutenant governor on Feb. 2, 2018, Chin served as the attorney general for the State of Hawai‘i and was the first to challenge the Executive Order that was argued today.

A decision is expected by late June.

More information about the case can be found on the Supreme Court’s docket, which is free and available to the public online.