REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO URGE COURTS TO PRIORITIZE VICTIM AND WITNESS RIGHTS TO SPEEDY TRIALS.

This Senate Resolution (SR 183) requests Hawaii's Judiciary to urge Family, District, and Circuit Courts to prioritize victim and witness rights to speedy trials in cases involving offenses under HRS Chapter 707 (e.g., sexual offenses). It directs courts to consider the adverse impact of delays on victims/witnesses when reviewing motions to postpone proceedings and to minimize delays for minor victims or witnesses. Specifically, for cases involving minors, it urges courts to limit continuances to three unless justified, require trials within 12 months of charges, and factor in a minor's age and well-being when deciding delays. The resolution does not create new law but asks the Judiciary to prioritize these considerations in existing court procedures.