Mehau v. Gannett Pacific Corp.

*136OPINION OF THE COURT BY

NAKAMURA, J.

Once again the question before us is whether published imputations of criminality may have transgressed the bounds of constitutionally protected speech and press. We are asked to decide whether two public officials can proceed to trial on their defamation suit against a host of defendants from the press and *137the electronic media1 and a State legislator2 and whether the legislator should have access through the discovery process to records of the Honolulu Police Department that may aid her defense of the action if we determine the two may go forth with the…