§605-2 Attorneys; license required. Except as provided by the rules of court, no person shall be allowed to practice in any court of the State unless that person has been duly licensed so to do by the supreme court; provided that nothing in this chapter shall prevent any person, plaintiff, defendant, or accused, from appearing in person before any court, and there prosecuting or defending that person's, plaintiff's, defendant's, or accused's own cause, without the aid of legal counsel; provided further that in the district courts sections 605-13 and 633-28 shall apply. [CC 1859, §1068; RL 1925, §2305; RL 1935, §3604; RL 1945, §9702; RL 1955, §217-2; HRS §605-2; am L 1972, c 184, §1(b); am L 1989, c 140, §4; gen ch 1992]

Rules of Court

See RSC rule 1.

Registration of attorneys and self-represented parties as judiciary electronic filing system users, see HEFSR rule 4; HRPP rule 4.

Law Journals and Reviews

Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe: Equality in Our Splintered Profession. 33 UH L. Rev. 249 (2010).

Case Notes

Failure to assign counsel before it appears defendant is indigent, not error. 15 H. 139, 143 (1903).

Right of self representation discussed. 53 H. 23, 487 P.2d 286 (1971).

Statutory liquidator of dissolved corporation under §416-124 does not have right to appear pro se, but where there are no funds to hire attorney, liquidator may perform legal services. 53 H. 23, 487 P.2d 286 (1971).

Court's order enjoining one's unauthorized practice of law applies to practice in federal court in absence of regulations by the federal court. 55 H. 458, 522 P.2d 460 (1974).

Generally a corporation cannot represent itself in litigation, but can do so only by an attorney. 60 H. 372, 590 P.2d 570 (1979).

Cited: 5 H. 279, 282 (1885).