Kannon Shanmugam Argues Hawaii Public-Lands Case Before Supreme Court
April 2009

On February 25, 2009, Williams & Connolly LLP partner Kannon Shanmugam presented oral argument to the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the respondents in Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, No. 07-1372, which concerned the validity of a state-court injunction barring the State of Hawaii from selling 1.2 million acres of public lands held in trust for Native Hawaiians. On March 31, 2009, the Supreme Court issued its decision, holding that it had jurisdiction to review the decision below but agreeing with the respondents that the case should be remanded to the Hawaii Supreme Court for further proceedings.

Click here to read the transcript of the oral argument.

Click here to read the brief for the respondents.

Click here to read the decision of the Supreme Court.