HONOLULU -- State House members met on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a special legislative session to help the Hawaii Superferry.

State House Democrats are considering special legislation to keep the Superferry operating, if a Maui court rules the vessel must stop all operations during a nine-month environmental assessment.

House members met behind closed doors to hear from the attorney general and others about how to keep the ferry sailing.

"We are hoping that Judge (Joseph) Cardoza will make the right and proper decision," House Speaker Calvin Say said. "The right decision is what everybody has been discussing that they can operate with certain conditions imposed and let the EA continue on."

Attorney General Mark Bennett also briefed House members on the possibility of the state getting sued if the Superferry is forced to close down.

Senate Democrats are scheduled to meet about the Superferry issue on Wednesday.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa told KITV she initially pushed for a special session before the judge's decision so it would not look like the Legislature was trying to circumvent the law.