Hawaiʻi Supreme Court to bring a case to Hilo as part of civics education program

Approximately 275 students from five Hawaiʻi Island high schools will attend as the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court hears oral arguments in “State of Hawaiʻi v. Charles Zuffante” as part of the Judiciary’s “Courts in the Community” program.

Courts in the Community brings the judicial process into local communities and provides students a firsthand look at the courts’ role in our democracy. This unique civics education opportunity highlights how the judiciary resolves disputes under the rule of law.

The case arises from a traffic stop in Kona when an officer conducted a pat-down of petitioner Charles Zuffante and found a packet of crystal methamphetamine in his pocket. Police later found more methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Following Zuffante’s arrest, a Hawaiʻi Police Department officer questioned Zuffante at the police station. At trial, the officer testified that Zuffante voluntarily waived his Miranda rights and made statements, including that Zuffante sells crystal methamphetamine.

A jury found Zuffante guilty of attempted promotion of a dangerous drug in the first degree in the circuit court of the Third Circuit and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

Zuffante appealed to the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA), arguing that his statements to the officer were not voluntary. He claimed the Circuit Court erred by admitting the officer’s testimony because Zuffante’s statement was not electronically recorded.

Zuffante asserted that, under the Hawaiʻi Constitution, Hawaiʻi should adopt the “Stephan Rule” from “Stephan v. State, 711 P.2d 1156 (Alaska 1985),” which requires under the due process clause of the Alaska Constitution that police record criminal interrogations conducted at a police station.

Zuffante argued that without the officer’s testimony about Zuffante’s statements, the State did not present substantial evidence to support his conviction. Zuffante also claimed his counsel was ineffective for not challenging the officer’s testimony. The ICA affirmed the Circuit Court.

Students from Hilo High School, Waiākea High School, Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School, Connections Public Charter School, and Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School will watch as Zuffante argues the Supreme Court should overrule “State v. Kekona, 77 Hawaiʻi 403 (1994),” where the court directly rejected the “Stephan Rule,” and instead require that police record custodial interrogations.

The arguments will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Performing Arts Center and will also be livestreamed for public viewing on the Judiciary’s YouTube channel and in ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi.

Learn more about State of Hawaiʻi v. Charles Zuffante on the Judiciary website.