The Hawaii Supreme Court dismissed an application for writ of certiorari filed by C.T. against J.R. on November 5, 2026. The dismissal occurred because the Intermediate Court of Appeals had not yet issued a final judgment or an order of dismissal in the case. This decision affects the parties involved and highlights the procedural requirements for appealing decisions in Hawaii's judicial system.

The case, identified as SCWC-24-0000743, involves a dispute between J.R. and C.T., although specific details about the nature of their disagreement were not provided in the court filing. The court's ruling emphasizes the importance of following proper legal procedures when seeking higher court review.

The Hawaii Supreme Court's decision was made by Chief Justice Vladimir P. Devens, along with Justices Sabrina S. McKenna, Todd W. Eddins, Lisa M. Ginoza, and Circuit Judge Paul B.K. Wong, who was assigned to the case due to a vacancy. The court noted that the application for writ of certiorari was filed prematurely, as there was no final judgment from the Intermediate Court of Appeals at the time of filing.

The court ruled, "IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner/Respondent-Appellant C.T.’s application for writ of certiorari, filed November 4, 2026, is dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the application." This means that C.T. has the option to re-file the application once a final judgment is issued by the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

This ruling underscores the procedural requirements set forth in Hawaii Revised Statutes § 602-59(a) and the Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 36(b)(1). The court clarified that a writ of certiorari can only be filed after the intermediate court has made a final decision in the case, ensuring that all procedural steps are followed before escalating a case to the Supreme Court.

The impact of this ruling is significant for both parties involved in the case, as well as for others navigating the Hawaii court system. It serves as a reminder that parties must adhere to procedural rules when seeking appellate review. The dismissal without prejudice allows C.T. to potentially pursue the matter further once the necessary judgments are issued, which may affect the timeline and strategy for both parties moving forward.

Going forward, C.T. may re-file the application for writ of certiorari once the Intermediate Court of Appeals issues its judgment or dismissal order. This ruling does not prevent C.T. from seeking further legal recourse; it simply requires compliance with the established procedural framework. Details regarding any related cases or future filings were not available in the court filing.