Rule 10.1 Withdrawal of Counsel

If your lawyer wants to stop representing you in a district court case, they can't just walk away. The court has to approve the withdrawal first before it becomes official. This applies to any case currently active in district court, with one exception laid out in a different rule (Rule 10(3)).

When a lawyer asks to withdraw, they also have to follow certain professional guidelines (found in Rule 1.16 of the Hawaiʻi Rules of Professional Conduct) along with any other laws that apply. These guidelines help make sure the lawyer isn't abandoning a client at a bad time or in a way that hurts their case. For example, a lawyer generally can't drop a client right before an important hearing if it would leave them without help.

This rule exists to protect people involved in court cases. It makes sure that someone always has proper legal representation, or at least a fair chance to find new representation, before their current lawyer is allowed to step away.