Says Opinion Does not Conform to the Rules of Professional Conduct and Legal Standards
Hilo, HI- Council member Jen Ruggles released a letter today in response to Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela’s opinion regarding possible criminal liability for war crimes. In a letter on Corporation Counsel letterhead dated August 22, 2018, Kamelamela’s answer consisted of two sentences stating, “we opine that you will not incur criminal liability under state, federal and international law. See Article VI, Constitution of the United States of America (international law cannot violate federal law).”
Council member Ruggles, stated that she had been advised by her attorney that Kamelamela’s answer was inconsistent with Rule 1.1 of the Hawai‘i Rules of Professional Conduct that applies to all licensed attorneys including government lawyers such as Corporation Counsel. The rule requires, “Competent handling of a particular matter [which] includes inquiry into and analysis of the factual and legal elements of the problem, and use of methods and procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners.”
Last week Ruggles had sent a letter to Mr. Kamelamela requesting he assure her that she was not incurring criminal liability under international humanitarian law and United States Federal law as a Council member for legislating and being complicit in the collection of taxes, foreclosures, and criminal prosecutions that appeared to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution and international humanitarian law.
Ruggles said she had retained legal counsel, Stephen Laudig, to be sure that her concerns received proper consideration. She said her attorney had advised her to refrain from legislating until Mr. Kamelamela has assured her she was not incurring criminal liability for the alleged war crime of enacting American law within the occupied territory of the Hawaiian Kingdom. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, the legal definition of “assure” is to “make certain and put beyond all doubt.”
Ruggles said Laudig advised her that Kamelamela’s answer was a conclusory statement unsupported by any facts and analysis and not a legal opinion. Therefore, Laudig stated that Kamelamela’s “letter provides no analysis, or argument making it something other than a legal opinion in the sense that it marshals no facts or law to reach a reasoned position.”
Laudig also pointed out to Kamelamela that his statement that “international law cannot violate federal law”, was not a true statement. He went on to further state that Kamelamela’s statement was a similar conclusion made by U.S. Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo in his now infamous legal opinion regarding Application of Treaties and Laws to al Qaeda and Taliban Detainees dated January 9, 2002. Like Council member Ruggles who is concerned of incurring criminal liability, the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense was also concerned about the incurring of criminal liability under international treaties and federal laws on the treatment of individuals detained by the U.S. Armed Forces during the conflict in Afghanistan. Yoo’s conclusion in his legal opinion stated “that neither the federal War Crimes Act [18 U.S.C. §2441] nor the Geneva Conventions would apply.”
Laudig states to Kamelamela that “Yoo’s legal opinion was found to be flawed and allegations of war crimes against Yoo and those relying on his opinion, arose in Germany in 2006, Spain in 2009, and Russia in 2013. After the United States Senate Intelligence Committee Report on CIA torture was released in December 2014, Erwin Chemerinsky, who at the time was Dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, called for the prosecution of Yoo for his role in authoring, as well as co-authoring, what came to be known as the Torture Memos.”
Laudig cautioned Kamelamela as to how he should “answer Council member Ruggles’ inquiries, because she is not the only member of the County Council that could be affected by your legal opinion.”
Council member Ruggles’ attorney reminded Kamelamela that the Office of the Corporation Counsel is tasked with giving legal counsel on matters related to the official powers and duties of Council members. He reminded Kamelamela that her request was made in her official capacity seeking legal advice in order to assure her that she was not incurring criminal liability under international humanitarian law and United States Federal law as a Council member for:
- Participating in legislation of the Hawai‘i County Council that would appear to be in violation of Article 43 of the Hague Regulations and Article 64 of the Geneva Convention where the laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom must be administered and not the laws of the United States;
- Being complicit in the collection of taxes from protected persons that stem from legislation enacted by the Hawai‘i County Council, which would appear to be in violation of Article 28 and 47 of the Hague Regulations and Article 33 of the Geneva Convention where pillaging is prohibited;
- Being complicit in the foreclosures of properties of protected persons for delinquent property taxes that stem from legislation enacted by the Hawai‘i County Council, which would appear to be in violation of Article 28 and 47 of the Hague Regulations and Article 33 of the Geneva Convention where pillaging is prohibited, as well as in violation of Article 46 of the Hague Regulations and Articles 50 and 53 of the Geneva Convention where private property cannot be confiscated; and
- Being complicit in the criminal prosecution of protected persons for committing misdemeanors or felonies that stem from legislation enacted by the Hawai‘i County Council, which would appear to be in violation of 147 of the Geneva Convention where protected persons are prohibited from being unlawfully confined, and cannot be denied a fair and regular trial by a tribunal with competent jurisdiction.
Council member Ruggles stated that Corporation Counsel’s letter did not comply with her request for a legal opinion. Her attorney compared the quality of Kamelamela’s letter of the 22nd to a previous 5 page much more thorough opinion on a much simpler matter dated November 3, 2017 involving a grant she wanted to provide for a community center titled Orchidland Neighbors CRF Grant Follow-up that included sections on background, facts, analysis, and a conclusion. She says for this grant Kamelamela had provided a legal opinion that appeared to have met the standard of professional conduct and that she was anticipating a response of similar quality. She also referred to a 12-page opinion by Kamelamela’s predecessor, Lincoln Ashida, which also included facts, analysis, and a conclusion to then Council member Bob Jacobson dated May 26, 2004, regarding Article III, Section 3-2, Hawai‘i County Charter WRK. NO. 03-3641
During last week’s Council Committee meetings on August 21, 2018, Kamelamela admitted that he had not yet read her 9-page letter, and Ruggles says that she was taken aback by Kamelamela’s uninformed comments made, which insinuated she was involved with Native Hawaiian sovereignty groups and that is what had motivated her inquiry.
She stated Kamelamela’s comments “struck me as improper and not what I would expect from a professional tasked with the responsibilities of his office nor from an attorney speaking to an elected official in public.”
She went on to state:
“I represent my constituents from District 5, and swore to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. If Kamelamela had read the letter before voicing his opinion on my legitimate request, he would have clearly known that the native Hawaiian sovereignty movement is unrelated to the issue of potential liability for war crimes. The memorandum opinion of Dr. deZayas, was not from a sovereignty group, but from a United Nations Independent Expert. His use of the terms ‘plundering’, ‘enabling’, and ‘colluding’ are precise legal terms associated with criminal activity for violating the Hague and Geneva Conventions. I do not take this memorandum lightly, nor should he.”
In Laudig’s response to Kamelamela, he states, “This letter is in the nature of a follow up reminder and opportunity to provide what could be described as a ‘proper’ legal opinion which would include…meeting the standards of competent practitioners’ as the Hawai‘i Rules of Professional Conduct outlines.”
Ruggles says, “until Corporation Counsel provides her with a proper legal opinion responding to the statement of facts, consistent with the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct, and the legal definition of assurance that I am not incurring criminal liability under U.S. law and international law, which includes the 1907 Hague Regulations and the 1949 Geneva Convention, IV, I painfully regret I have been advised by my attorney that I must continue to refrain from legislating.”
Ruggles added, “I will be holding a townhall meeting on this issue shortly, and as always, welcome our constituents’ concerns, questions, and ideas on any issue. I am available to them and will continue to work hard in providing transparency and accountability in government.”
Click to download:
Council member Ruggles’ Letter to Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela, August 21, 2018
Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela’s Letter to Council Member Ruggles’ Letter, August 22, 2018
Council member Ruggles’ Response Letter to Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela, August 28, 2018
Finally, a legislator who is aware.
An epochal account here on the proceedings of the Hilo, Hi. City Council seeking clarification on law violations. Mr Kamelamela needs to apprise the Council and the community on the procedural function of parliamentary law that he is following in his counsel to the City Council. He cannot rely on glib answers in a deliberative assembly seeking legal advice. He is required to conduct the duties of his office in a professional an ethical manner.
Oh, wow! I could barely contain myself while reading this article. This saga just keeps getting better and better. Way to take them task, Jen, and to hold them to the standard they set for themselves, and have long ignored! This is great news for all who practice integrity, and an open door for truth to prevail. WooHoo!
Joe Kamelamela’s inept response to Council Member Jen Ruggles request is definitely unacceptable and an example of his dereliction of duty in his capacity as Corporation Counsel.
It’s not as though Corporate Counsel Kamelamela had to do exhaustive work in order to determine whether the State of Hawaii is in violation of international law. All he needs to do is to prove that the sovereign continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom was extinguished. If there is no evidence that the sovereign continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom was extinguished then he must comply with the U.S. supremacy law regarding treaties and compacts with foreign states.
Mr. Kamelamela’s response should not be relied upon by any council member in order for them to make an informed choice.
I think Council Member Ruggle’s question should be brought before all the council members of all the different counties.
And the clear and concise question asked of each member is:
Are you commiting war crimes within Hawaiian jurisdiction?
Their admission seals their fate!
If they’re not sure, then the liability moves to Corporation Counsel. If they all get it wrong then the all go down!
If more members were to realize the seriousness of war crime violations and choose to refrain from doing business as usual the State of Hawaii will suffer a crippling effect and will have no other option but to comply with the law of occupation.
Aloha Kanekeawe, I took you up on your offer on August 18, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. mahalo for that invite.
Mahalo Kekoa! Anytime you want to Kuka kuka, you can reach me at: kanekeawe@gmail.com
The Writ of Mandamus is very clean and very tight on wiggle room. It’s unfortunate that only a few are properly aware of Hawaii’s painful history.
It’s one thing to help the uninformed and yet another thing to correct the misinformed.
Imagine that though on a massive scale! Wow!
The sprit of confusion can be overtaken by the spirit of knowledge and comprehension through prayer.
It’s pleasing to see that council member Jennifer Ruggles has taken the proper steps to ascertain information concerning the sovereign continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom through her own due diligence and with respect to her capacity as a representative of her constituents. She is truly a representative of her constituents!
Mahalo again for coming into agreement with me on 8/18/18, and to all who came into agreement with us, it is greatly appreciated!!
Yep, just as I suspected a non response as his response. It’s obvious he doesn’t care and is going to play it off until her term expires. I liked that Mr. Laudig cc’d his letter to the entities he did. It shows them the incompetence and bias of Mr. Kamelamela as an attorney representing the occupiers gov’t. 100X worse than that of DOJ Attorney John Yoo. Makes him a definite candidate for war crimes.
Can you explain how Kamelamela is accountable for War Crimes? After all all he has done was give his legal opinion to the inquiry of legislator Jen Ruggles. Jen Ruggles she’s a sneaky one eh? How’s Attorney Yoo doing? Is he still in jail?
Paragraph six and seven explains his accountability. He did not provide a legal opinion he made a conclusory statement trying to pass it off as a legal opinion. He will never provide a legal opinion with analysis of the factual and legal elements of the problem and use of methods and procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners. He can’t, it’s impossible, going any further would only be self incriminating. So what do smart crooks do? They plead the fifth and remain silent.
AHmazing mAhalo that there is at LEAST one Wahine who knows and is doing what she MUST to drain our collective CESSpool swamp! KU’E
While there are (3) types of TRUTHS.
Political Truth = if incessantly repeated enough people will eventually believe it. “Hawaiʻi was colonized”, “Hawaiʻi voted statehood in 1959…”, “If wasn’t for usa….blah blah blah” “just another sovereignty group”.
Personal Truth = If YOUR belief is that ʻHawaiʻi is the 50th stateʻ…thatʻs fine just donʻt force it on any one else.
OBJECTIVE TRUTH = No one result is true, unless verified!
The questions and concerns are valid IMO, Objective truth required, not political, not personal.
Thank You Jen Ruggles, you have my support thats for sure. Truth hurts more than the lie. And reading this article hurt, can feel all our past sufferings. I’ll do my part to encourage others to support you. I’m from Maui my genealogy comes fromMaui & Moku o Keawe , Moku Nui. We need people like you, locals going treat you like family. Your actions are priceless. Your Family is getting Bigger. God Bless you and Mahalo Nui******
Shouldn’t the Hawaiian Kingdom Government Start Educating the General Public On “What Is The Hawaiian Kingdom Law” ? In a way for everyone to understand. And What kinds of Impact it will have on the Hawaii that we know of Today, How Is It Going To Change our Landscape ? The People have a right to know.
Everyone should educate themselves on HK Law… and everyone should own a copy of the HK constitution. The government should definitely make it available for everyone to purchase and own.
As far as how things will change, what is your concern? Maybe we should face the reality, whatever they may be. Countries around the world do not live up to the American standards economically and financially… maybe we should accept this idea too. We are independent and must figure a way for ourselves. As of the moment we just need to accept that there may be some changes coming or you can migrate to America…. like everybody else.
So how do we get these bullheaded Americans to admit that the HK is occupied? Whistle blower Jen Ruggles has helped a lot by stating that her fellow members are ‘aware’ but chose to keep silent. Talk about turning up the heat a notch. Anyways what now… what’s the next moves…. would love to hear your opinions.
Kaulana you sound like you don’t even know what Independence is. You sound like a dependent. Your a trouble maker. Your full of BS.
I’m direct when I speak, I don’t beat around the bush. Your personal opinions are appreciated but Irrelevant. Aloha
well Hawaiian Kingdom. Its your Turn now. Practice what you Preach. Tell Us What are you Talking About Hawaiian Kingdom Law. I Going Call your Bluff. What Cooperate America going finally be held Accountable From Profiting off Hawaii for all these years. Heaha ?
What Hawaiian Kingdom, What is Hawaiian Kingdom Law?
He aha ?
What Is Hawaiian Kingdom Law?
https://www.hawaiiankingdom.info/
Right column under ‘Documents’ some of them you have to ‘right click’ ‘print’ save as ‘pdf.’
http://hawaiiankingdom.org/constitutional-history.shtml
?????
This is all kinda like waiting for the next episode of a hit tv series! I’m dying to see what happens next!!!
Go to Hawaiiankingdom.org and click on the tab with constitution and statutory laws. You should be able to find the HK civil code, penal code and sessions laws.
I would urge all Hawai’i legislators and administrators at county, state and federal levels to ask this question of their government level counsel to advise if they are committing war crimes by drafting legislation under U.S. or Hawai’i laws and then enacting them into laws imposed on Hawai’i residents. Do this to protect your rights and to determine if you are violating your oath of office.
You are involved in a long term illegal occupation of Hawai’i by the United States of America.
Continuing to legislate, now that you know of the illegal occupation, makes you liable to be charged with war crimes.
History has provided many examples of what happens to those that knowingly commit war crimes.
Jen Ruggles has shown the courage to act on her conscious and with the life experience to do what is right.
okay, now i starting to catch on, By The Grace of God, Choosing the Next Hawaiian Monarch, Head of State Is 1 of The Next Biggest Challenge We Face as a Hawaiian Sovereign Country.
Than going Only have 49 stars on the American Flag, yeah ? yeah****
Big World Wide Party On That Day. Ready or Not We Destined For That Day Some Where In The Future.
Prophesy*****
This whole exercise is to expose the occupation in order to gain the support of the international community to help regulate it through the de-occupation process while we elect a legislature to kick start our de jure gov’t. Then ho’olaule’a!!!
why would progressive people of today elect to be subject/slave to monarchs? the world is trying to rid of oligarchies and hawaiians want monarchies? why not self govern?
Since the creation of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s constitutional monarchy in 1843 the Hawaiians were never oppressed or enslaved by their monarchy. Take your own philosophy and govern your self and leave the Hawaiians to govern themselves. Stop trying to impose your beliefs on others.
Just Needed To Say 1 more Thing.
A Big Word of Advise To Every One Out There Especially To The Hawaiian Kingdom Government “my vision seems to be showing me this knowledge”.
Please Keep In Mind* “It May Not Be A King But Maybe A Queen”
In a Time and Place That We Are In Now. A Queen may bring more Stability than a King.
The People Maybe More Stable Excepting a Queen instead of a King.
Giving it a Lucky guess a Queen going make our country more stable.
Hawaiian Kingdom Government. Please Take This Into Consideration.
Did you ever take into consideration we might not have a monarch?
????
true sovereigns are self governing, not subject to any other
The Hawaiian Kingdom government does not practice “political correctness.” Doing so is a destiny towards failure.
Are you talking about the one and only HKG or a pretender/usurper calling itself the HKG?
Technically it’s the ‘acting’ HK government.
my Ancestor is NuNu
Its written right there on the Hawaiian Kingdom Government Web Site.
Constitution & Statutory Laws.
The Letter From United Nations Dr. Alfred M. dezayes , the lawful political status of the Hawaiian Islands is that of a Sovereign Nation State in Continuity.
Definition of Sovereign 1. a supreme ruler. especially a Monarch.
I think you misread. Dr. Dezayes defined the political status of the Nation state in continuity as Sovereign. A Sovereign ruler is an individual not a state. This is where a lot get confused with because the illegal overthrow was that of the Sovereign ruler and her gov’t.. You can get rid of a Sovereign ruler/gov’t it does not mean you took possession of that state’s sovereignty. Here’s a question for you. In HK law the Monarch personally appoints the House of Nobles for life terms. The House of Nobles is the body that confirms the next Monarch that was named successor or if the monarch did not confirm a successor then the house of nobles selects a new candidate. Since there is no confirmed successor who can be the monarch to appoint the House of Nobles and no House of Nobles to name a new candidate for Monarch how do you get that Monarch without violating HK law?????
according to international law’s a corporation cannot annex a nation ! Also a bankrupt government cannot annex a nation with wealth. The ” Act of 1871 ” is what’s it known in the congressional records is when the United States incorporated was established and recognized . Fact that the United States was a corporation before the annexation . The United States government was bankrupt , this is why it became a corporation . now everything the United States government did that affected the lives of the people living in hawaii was and is illegal . The FDA ,FCC, Federal reserve ,FDA , etc. The heir or in this case heirs of the body needs to repay all the funds stolen and damages plus interest which they can’t . any country that received funds from the IMF would also owe hawaii because they use illegal stolen funds . The world would owe hawaii something . now because of this they will never give back what was stolen !
US is a foreign, for profit corporation, not a government….much like Walmart of Honda. It has no jurisdiction.
Jennifer Ruggles; waves political sign. But if the person she is campaigning for wins… then she can’t legislate since then she may be committing war crimes. And in the mean time, as a property owner in upper puna. I am being taxed with no representation.
If you are paying taxes to the County then you are a victim of the war crime of pillaging. Jennifer Ruggles is representing you as a protected person that is being illegally taxed not only by the County, but also the State and Federal Gov’t.
person means corporation or fiction
Not sure if this is in line w/ what u r speaking about, but IMHO, Kanaka are Sovereigns upon their Kuleana Titled lands. Those titles are untouchable even by the highest authority, thus, they are the absolute sovereign. However, in the “person” sense that you speak of, they are also included by their country as a member of a larger community, off of their Kuleana land. Different hats, different titles. Sovereigns, people. They can exist separate and simultaneously.
As for your comment about monarchies. Just nonsense. Hawaii is not an absolute monarchy, rather a constitutional monarchy. There is no comparison to the ideal that you attempt to “shop”. In fact, the people today (Kanaka) are still benefiting (as the benefactors of the former royalty) from the monarchs of yesterday. That’s not something you can readily point to to past monarchies in former countries around the world. So, please stop vilifying it.