New unrestrained policy goes courtwide Monday in Kona

KAILUA-KONA — Starting Monday, the 3rd Circuit will fully implement a new procedure that allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear unrestrained in court. While Hawaii is not seeking to fight the ruling that calls for defendants to appear cuff-less, another state within the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction hopes to overturn it. The new policy comes after the 9th Circuit ruled May 31 that a pretrial status criminal defendant appearing in court in shackles is a violation of their...