Amendment 1 - Civil Trial Threshold Value

Summary

A "yes" vote supports amending the Hawaii Constitution to raise the value in controversy requirement for jury trials from $5,000 to $10,000

A "no" vote supports maintaining $5,000 as the minimum value in controversy in a civil dispute necessary for a jury trial

Arguments

A raise of the threshold to $10,000 keeps with inflation since 1988, when the $5,000 minimum amount was enacted, in support of Amendment 1 (Learn more)

Minimum thresholds eliminate the right to a jury trial for those with lesser claims, in opposition to Amendment 1 (Learn more)

Because jury trials cost more than bench trials, a higher controversy requirement reduces expenditures for all involved parties, in support of Amendment 1 (Learn more)

Including more cases as bench trials would reduce the number of citizens summoned for jury duty, in support of Amendment 1 (Learn more)

Measure Details