Echineque v. State of Hawaiʻi

Summary

The Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals dismissed Arwin R. Echineque’s appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction. The court concluded that it lacked original jurisdiction over any proposed civil claim and that the petitioner’s complaints could not be construed as appeals from a specific order or judgment in the identified civil or criminal cases.

Holdings

1. The Intermediate Court of Appeals lacks original jurisdiction to hear a newly initiated civil claim for damages.
2. Filings that do not identify or challenge a particular order or judgment cannot be construed, even liberally, as an appeal from the underlying cases.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Intermediate Court of Appeals had original jurisdiction to consider Echineque's attempt to initiate a civil claim.
2. Whether Echineque's filings could be liberally construed as a valid appeal from a particular order or judgment in either the underlying civil or criminal case.

Disposition

dismissed