Gov. Linda Lingle, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and state House Speaker Calvin Say have scheduled a meeting for this afternoon to discuss a possible special session to help Superferry.

Yesterday, House and Senate leaders reacted skeptically to Lingle's comments that a special session may be needed no matter what the judge rules.

Lawmakers have said a special session would likely be necessary if the judge decides the Superferry cannot resume service during the environmental assessment or places conditions on service that Superferry executives object to for financial reasons. But lawmakers have questioned the need for a special session if the judge rules in favor of Superferry.

Environmentalists could appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court but an appeal would likely not be decided until the regular legislative session begins in January, when lawmakers could change the law.

A special session would be likely if it appeared the appeal would be heard sooner or if environmentalists asked the court to stop ferry service while the appeal is considered.

"I would argue to the caucus that we shouldn't come back under that scenario," state House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa), said of a favorable ruling for Superferry.

Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), also had doubts. "I don't think that every scenario is going to require us to come back in," she said.

Differences between Lingle and House and Senate leaders may be subtle but could be important, since cooperation will be key to any legislative remedy to help Superferry.

Lingle, on her weekly radio show on Wednesday, said she was concerned that the Maui court ruling could be appealed and lead to further legal uncertainty. "So I anticipate there will be a special session in any case in order to deal with this in a degree of certainty that this business can stay in business," she said.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.