ROH §2-3.2
When the City Lawyer Can Sue or Join Lawsuits
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗This section limits when the city's lawyer (corporation counsel) can start or join a lawsuit. They can only act if the city, its officials, or employees are directly involved. To sue a private person, they need the city council's approval first.
courtsstate agencies
The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Prohibited acts
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
The corporation counsel shall not:
(1) Initiate, engage, or participate in any legal action or proceedings in which any of the city, its officials, or its employees are not directly involved in or named as a party to a contemplated or ongoing legal proceeding; and
(2) Other than situations where corporation counsel is expressly authorized by federal or State statutes or city laws, bring action against a private person as defined in § 1-4.1 without first obtaining the consent and approval of the council that shall be manifested by an adopted council resolution.
)
Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.