Birkett v. Brown

Opinion

Electronically Filed

Supreme Court

SCPW-XX-XXXXXXX

23-JUL-2025

01:04 PM

Dkt. 6 ODDP

SCPW-XX-XXXXXXX

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI

________________________________________________________________

SOMMER DAWN BIRKETT, Petitioner, vs.

THE HONORABLE ROBERT J. BROWN, Judge of the District Family Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaiʻi, Respondent Judge,

and

RYAN TARO BIRKETT, Respondent.

________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

(CASE NO. 1DV221000879)

ORDER DENYING PETITION

(By: Recktenwald, C.J., McKenna, Eddins, Ginoza, and Devens, JJ.)

Upon consideration of the document titled, “Formal Judicial Complaint Against Judge Robert J. Brown,” filed March 24, 2025, which we construe as a petition for extraordinary writ, and the record, Petitioner has not demonstrated a clear and indisputable right to relief nor a lack of alternative means to seek relief. See Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP v. Kim, 153 Hawaiʻi 307, 319,

2

537 P.3d 1154, 1166 (2023); see also Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes § 571-54 (2018); Eaton v. Eaton, 7 Haw. App. 111, 118-19, 748 P.2d 801, 805 (App. 1987).

It is ordered that the petition is denied.

It is also ordered that Petitioner’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this original proceeding is granted. The appellate clerk shall process the petition without payment of the filing fees.

DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, July 23, 2025.

/s/ Mark E. Recktenwald

/s/ Sabrina S. McKenna

/s/ Todd W. Eddins

/s/ Lisa M. Ginoza

/s/ Vladimir P. Devens