Rule 89.Expedition of Court Business: Sanctions.

Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 11, 2026

In one sentenceRule 89 lets the court sanction an attorney who fails to report a settlement, to file on time, or to appear when the case is called.

Full Text of Rule 89

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) (a) Required notice. Attorneys shall advise the court promptly if a case is settled. An attorney who fails to give the court such prompt advice may be subject to such sanction as the court deems appropriate.

(b) (b) Submission of documents, adherence to court policy. An attorney who, without good cause, fails to submit documents in a timely manner in accordance with these Rules, or who fails to adhere to these Rules or applicable statutes, may be subject to such sanction as the court deems appropriate.

(c) (c) Effect of failure to appear or tardiness. An attorney who, without good cause, fails to appear or is tardy when the attorney’s case is before the court on call, motion, pre-trial or trial or who unjustifiably fails to prepare for a presentation to the court necessitating a continuance, may be subject to such sanction as the court deems appropriate.

End

Amendment History

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s compiled text of this rule carries no amendment order for this rule. For the adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s rules page.

Plain-English Summary

Three duties, each with the same consequence. Attorneys must advise the court promptly if a case is settled, and one who fails to give that prompt advice may be sanctioned as the court deems appropriate. A court that keeps a trial date for a case that no longer needs one has lost that time to everybody else on the calendar.

An attorney who without good cause fails to submit documents in a timely manner under these rules, or fails to adhere to these rules or applicable statutes, may be sanctioned in the same way.

So may an attorney who without good cause fails to appear or is tardy when the case is before the court on call, motion, pre-trial or trial, or who unjustifiably fails to prepare for a presentation and so makes a continuance necessary.

This rule is one of the two the ruleset points at whenever it needs a sanction. Rule 2.1 names it alongside Rule 37(b)(2) for non-compliance generally, Rule 5.2 for a failure to notify foster parents, and Rules 94 and 94.1 for non-appearance at a motion to set or settlement conference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell the Hawaii family court my case settled?

Yes. Attorneys must advise the court promptly, and a failure to do so may draw such sanction as the court deems appropriate.

What happens if an attorney files late?

An attorney who without good cause fails to submit documents in a timely manner under these rules may be sanctioned.

Can an attorney be sanctioned for being late to court?

Yes, where the tardiness or failure to appear is without good cause, or where an unjustified failure to prepare makes a continuance necessary.

Which other rules point to Rule 89?

Rule 2.1 for non-compliance with the rules generally, Rule 5.2 for foster care notice, and Rules 94 and 94.1 for non-appearance at conferences.

Does this rule reach parties as well as attorneys?

Rule 89 addresses attorneys. Rules 94(f) and 94.1(c) extend sanctions to a party whether represented or not.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Hawaii Family Court Rules (Haw. Fam. Ct. R. 89). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 11, 2026. · Official source

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