U. S. District Judge David Ezra essentially approved the latest federal magistrate's status report on the state efforts.

Although U. S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang could not say in his report in August that the state met a June 30 deadline to be in substantial compliance with the plan, he said the state made progress and he recommended the lifting of the oversight on Nov. 30.

"This case will simply terminate (on Nov. 30)," Judge Ezra said.

Attorney General Mark Bennett said even with the lifting of the federal oversight, the state will continue to seek to improve the mental health services.

"We will keep our noses to the grindstone," he said.

The state has been under federal oversight for 15 years as a result of a Justice Department lawsuit alleging violations the constitutional rights of patients at Hawai'i State Hospital.

The hospital emerged from the oversight in late 2004, but the oversight continued over the community plan aimed at providing adequate services to the mentally ill in the community.

Justice Department attorneys agreed to the lifting of the oversight on Nov. 30 after the state raised concerns about whether the federal oversight could continue beyond June 30.

The community plan is aimed at providing adequate treatment, services and housing for the mentally ill.