Posted on: Thursday, April 18, 2002

Harris court brief to be filed by Sunday

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Attorneys for Mayor Jeremy Harris will file a final court brief by Sunday's deadline, to clear the way for the Hawai'i Supreme Court to rule whether Harris must resign immediately as mayor because of his announced plans to run for governor.

Robert Klein, a former state Supreme Court justice who represents Harris, said yesterday that he will file a court brief in response to documents filed by attorneys for Russell Blair.

Blair, a former District Court judge and state senator, filed a lawsuit against Harris that demanded the mayor resign from office.

On March 11, Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna ruled that Harris officially became a candidate for governor on May 15, 2001, when he filed an organizational report with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Harris appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.