Posted on: Friday, June 15, 2001

Lawyers granted more time to prepare for Felix hearing

Advertiser Staff

A federal court hearing on the fate of Hawai'i's special education system has been delayed as the two sides try to find common ground.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra was scheduled to hear motions in the Felix consent decree a week from today, but the parties have asked the judge for more time while they discuss the issues among themselves.

The plaintiff's attorneys have asked Ezra to appoint a receiver over the special education system. The state has asked for an extension of its deadline to show improved services.

The consent decree is the result of a 1993 class-action lawsuit that found the state was not adequately identifying or educating children with mental disabilities. Ezra already has found the state in contempt for missing an earlier deadline.