Attorney William A. Harrison's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

State of Hawai’i v. Joel H. White, 141 Hawai’i 502 (2018)

Feb 28, 2018

OUTCOME: The Appellate court agreed with the defense that the defendant deserved a new trial.

A jury found the client guilty of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. The client filed a Motion for New Trial, claiming that the Court should have given the jury an instruction on the mitigating def ... ense of extreme mental or emotional disturbance in light of the Circuit Court's independent obligation to give the instruction where the deputy prosecutor's closing argument, clearly invited the jury to consider his mental and emotional condition as a motive for the alleged conduct. The Court granted the motion and the State of Hawai‘i appealed.

Criminal defense

State of Hawaii v. Stan’s Contracting, 111 Hawai‘i 17, 31, 137 P.3d 331, 345 (2006)

Jun 15, 2016

OUTCOME: The Hawai'i Supreme Court agreed with the defense and the trial court and affirmed the dismissal of the charges.

The State improperly obtained an indictment charging a public corruption Theft in the First Degree case. We challenged the indictment and the trial court agreed and dismissed the charges against the cl ... ients. The State appealed the court's decision.

Criminal defense

State of Hawai’i v. Susan Chin, 135 Hawai’i 437, 353 P.3d 979 (2015)

Jun 25, 2015

OUTCOME: Case reversed on juror misconduct and failure of court to conduct hearing on the issue.

Client convicted by a jury of Theft in the First Degree. Juror foreperson had improper contact with a defense witness. The trial court refused to conduct a hearing on the issue of prejudice to the clie ... nt.

Criminal defense

State of Hawai’i v. Ramos-Saunders, 135 Hawai’i 299, 349 P.3d 406 (2015)

Apr 23, 2015

OUTCOME: The Appeals court agreed with the defense and the trial court and affirmed the dismissal.

The client was charged with commercially growing and manufacturing large amounts of marijuana. We challenged the police conduct in the case and the court agreed by throwing out the evidence of the crim ... e and dismissing the case. The State appealed the court's decision.

Criminal defense

United States v. Aikins, 946 F.2d 608 (1990)

Jun 07, 1990

OUTCOME: The Court of Appeals overturned the conviction noting that the jury was invalidly selected, requiring a new trial for defendants.

Defendants were convicted in the United States District Court, District of Hawaii, with possession with intent to distribute 21,000 pounds of marijuana on the high seas and of distributing a separate 1 ... 4,000 pounds of marijuana on the high seas, in violation of Maritime Drug Enforcement Act. Defendants appealed.

Criminal defense

Sample Appellate Cases

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OUTCOME:

State of Hawai’i v. Susan Chin, 135 Hawai’i 437, 353 P.3d 979 (2015); State of Hawai’i v. Ramos-Saunders, 135 Hawai’i 299, 349 P.3d 406 (2015); State of Hawaii v. Stan’s Contracting, 111 Hawai‘i 17, 31 ... , 137 P.3d 331, 345 (2006); State v. Keawe, 107 Haw. 1, 108 P.3d 104 (2005); United States v. Aikins, 946 F.2d 608 (1990); United States v. Albertini, 472 U.S. 675 (1986); United States v. Albertini, 710 F.2d 1410 (1983); State v. Lee, 75 Haw. 80 (1993); State v. Gilbert, 68 Haw. 226 (1985)

William A. Harrison's Legal Cases (6)

State of Hawai’i v. Joel H. White, 141 Hawai’i 502 (2018)

State of Hawaii v. Stan’s Contracting, 111 Hawai‘i 17, 31, 137 P.3d 331, 345 (2006)

State of Hawai’i v. Susan Chin, 135 Hawai’i 437, 353 P.3d 979 (2015)

State of Hawai’i v. Ramos-Saunders, 135 Hawai’i 299, 349 P.3d 406 (2015)

United States v. Aikins, 946 F.2d 608 (1990)

Sample Appellate Cases