Here’s the latest in a case we’ve been following, which asks whether Williamson County‘s final decision ripeness requirement is limited to takings claims.
Continue Reading SCOTUS Will Answer Whether Williamson County Final Decision Ripeness Governs Free Exercise Claims
Here’s our annual missive on why today (this year, Friday, April 3, 2026), the doors to most Hawaii state, county, and city offices are locked. What’s so special about this Friday? Well, this is the day Hawaii celebrates Good Friday. Yes, Good Friday is an an official state-sanctioned holiday in the 808 area code. How did it come to be that the State commemorates the date of the crucifixion, and how does that square with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Continue Reading Today Is Hawaii’s Secular Good Friday State Holiday – What’s Up With That?
In Grand v. City of University Heights, No. 24-3876 (Nov. 13, 2026), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that a complaint alleging a RLUIPA claim and others was not ripe because they are “land use” claims subject to Williamson County‘s final decision requirement.
A neighbor was “displeased” that Grand
Here’s a case that isn’t about takings and our usual fare, but is nonetheless an example of how dirt law can be fascinating.
In Hilo Bay Marina, LLC v. State of Hawaii, No. SCAP-23-0000310 (Sep. 12, 2025), the Hawaii Supreme Court held that a restriction in a land patent issued by the State of Hawaii’s predecessor-in-interest (the Territory of Hawaii) in 1922, that limited the uses of the land to “Church purposes only” cannot be enforced under the state constitution’s establishment clause.
Continue Reading Restriction In Gov’t-Granted Deed Limiting Uses To “Church purposes” Can’t Be EnforcedThe latest episode of the “Is That Even Legal?” podcast features a familiar voice, that of former Eminent Domain Podcast host, Clint Schumacher who joins host Bob Sewell as a guest to discuss takings by eminent domain, and by overregulation.
Clint joins the ITEL Podcast to discuss a situation that has been in
Registration is open and underway for this year’s edition of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute in Denver, March 5-7, 2025. Location: University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
This conference is more what we’ll call “land usey” than ALI-CLE’s Eminent Domain & Land Valuation Litigation Conference (as the respective titles suggest), but there’s a
Like most “paranormal caught on camera” shots,
this one is grainy. But you can just make Mr. Jefferson out.
Colonial Williamsburg is adjacent to the William & Mary Law School, so from time-to-time, we’ll take a walk over just to soak up the atmosphere. The vibe picks up in the autumn season, when the
This is one we’ve been meaning to post for a while, but something else always seemed to intervene.
In BMG Monroe I, LLC v. Village of Monroe, No. 22-1047 (Feb. 16, 2024), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a statutory and constitutional challenge to the Village’s .
There are some rewards for working late in the 808
Yesterday was the last day of instruction for the Spring 2024 semester at the University of Hawaii Law School. Did these last few months ever go by fast.
A big thank you to Professor Mark M. Murakami, with whom I guest-lectured at the Old
Here are the cases that Michael Berger and I discussed in today’s presentation to the ABA State and Local Government Law Section’s Land Use group. It was good seeing everyone, even virtually: