Look both ways when crossing over
It’s halftime in what’s currently the most frenetic game being played in Honolulu: the making of Hawaii state laws.
Today is "crossover," when all the bills still alive after being worked over by the House move to the opposite chamber, and the survivors that originated in the Senate float over to the House.
(The word "float" conjures imagery that’s probably far too serene. The truth more closely resembles hundreds of bills hitting their new inboxes like tons of bricks.)
In about a week, the next deadline will pop up, a key vote on the budget, legislation that will continue to morph as the weeks drag on.
These people in the state Capitol are dealing with things that have real meaning to everyone — the minimum rate at which everyone gets paid, for instance. Still, most of us pay little attention. Maybe if there was a halftime show, we’d tune in.
Order, and electronic devices, in the court
Hawaii’s court system may be entering the 21st century by allowing the public, members of the media and lawyers to use laptops, cellphones and other electronics in the courtroom, as long as they don’t make noise.
As it is now, the judge decides what to allow in the courtroom. The state Supreme Court is considering to adopt rules that will let people bring modern devices inside the courtroom but not use them to take photographs or record video of court proceedings. Also, laptops could be used as long as the texting or emailing is not "audibly distracting to others."
If only the U.S. Supreme Court would allow cameras and other modern, quiet devices in federal courtrooms.
