Haw. Sup. Ct. R. 1.12

(a) The Board, its members, employees, and agents are immune from all civil liability for conduct and communications occurring in the performance of their official duties, and civil suits predicated thereon may not be instituted.

(b) Records, statements of opinion, and other information regarding an applicant for admission to the bar, communicated by any entity, including a person, firm, or institution, without malice, to the Board or to its members, employees, or agents are privileged, and civil suits predicated thereon may not be instituted.

COMMENT:

This immunity rule is patterned from a model immunity rule adopted by the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. Part (a) of the rule provides absolute immunity from civil liability to members of the Board of Law Examiners, employees of the Board, and agents of the Board in the performance of their official duties. Part (b) of the rule grants immunity to those who provide information about an applicant as long as the information is provided "without malice." The purpose of part (b) is to encourage and protect the reporting of truthful information and candid evaluation. Intentional reporting of false information, without just cause, excuse, or justification, is not protected.

(Amended January 8, 1981, effective January 8, 1981; further amended January 23, 1981, and February 3, 1981, effective January 23, 1981; renumbered September 1984; further amended February 27, 1985, effective February 27, 1985; further amended October 23, 1985, effective October 23, 1985; further amended February 13, 1987, effective February 13, 1987; further amended October 27, 1989, effective November 1, 1989, subject to transitional orders; further amended August 1, 1990, effective August 1, 1990; further amended September 28, 1990, effective September 28, 1990; further amended February 7, 1992, effective February 7, 1992; further amended May 14, 1993, effective May 14, 1993; further amended August 1, 1994, effective August 1, 1994; further amended February 6, 1995, effective February 6, 1995; further amended July 1, 1999.)