Supreme Flip Flop: McKenna and Eddins Apologize, Withdraw Corrupt Kealoha Opinion
by Andrew Walden
Not ready for Prime Time?
After facing criticism for a bizarre September 30, 2025, opinion in which they suggested three politically-connected Kealoha convicts may be innocent, Acting Chief Justice Sabrina McKenna and Justice Todd Eddins have both suddenly changed their minds.
McKenna is reportedly one of three Justices vying for the permanent appointment as Chief Justice.
The hapless duo withdrew their opinion in a court document filed at 4:57PM Friday, October 3, 2025.
And they apologized.
Here is the text:
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (ODC Case No. 19-0023)
WITHDRAWAL OF CONCURRENCE OF McKENNA, J., IN WHICH EDDINS, J., JOINED
I apologize for misinterpreting the factual basis for the criminal offense underlying this disciplinary proceeding.
The Concurrence of McKenna, J., in which Eddins, J., joined, filed on September 30, 2025, is hereby withdrawn.
DATED: October 3, 2025
Honolulu, Hawai’i
/s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
/s/ Todd W. Eddins
---30---
PDF: SCAD-25-0000205ord.pdf
HNN: Hawaii Supreme Court justice withdraws corruption case opinion with apology
CB: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justice Apologizes For 'Misinterpreting' Case “Retired Judge Daniel Foley, who served on the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals from 2000 to 2016, said that while sometimes courts will take another look at an opinion after a party in a case files a motion to reconsider, he’s never seen a justice withdraw an opinion of their own volition.“
Oct 2, 2025: Corruption: New Acting Chief Justice immediately goes out of her way to Suggest Three Kealoha Convicts May Be Innocent
Oct 5, 2025: Mafia News: Three Names for Hawaii Chief Justice