Full Opinion

Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCPW-XX-XXXXXXX 12-NOV-2026 08:52 AM Dkt. 15 ODDP SCPW-XX-XXXXXXX IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI ________________________________________________________________ IN RE SARAH EDEN COULTAS ________________________________________________________________ ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (CASE NO. 3CPC-XX-XXXXXXX) ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS AND/OR PROHIBITION (By: Devens, C.J., McKenna, Eddins, and Ginoza, JJ., and Circuit Judge Souza, assigned by reason of vacancy) Upon consideration of the petition for writ of mandamus and/or prohibition filed September 16, 2026, and the record, an extraordinary writ is not intended to be used to control the exercise of a judge’s discretion before the judge has issued a decision on the issues before the circuit court. Naipo v. Border, 125 Hawaiʻi 31, 34, 251 P.3d 594, 597 (2011). Following the judge’s decision on counsel representation, Petitioner may seek review of that decision through normal appellate procedures, if and when appropriate. An extraordinary writ is unwarranted. See Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP v. Kim, 153 Hawaiʻi 307, 319, 537 P.3d 1154, 1166 (2023). It is ordered that the petition is denied. It is also ordered that the request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted, and the motion filed September 16, 2026, is denied as moot. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, November 12, 2026. /s/ Vladimir P. Devens /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Todd W. Eddins /s/ Lisa M. Ginoza /s/ Kevin A.K. Souza 2