In December, Circuit Judge Kevin Chang issued a lengthy ruling that sources say is harshly critical of the four Campbell estate trustees.

That ruling is sealed. So are most of the legal papers filed by the $2 billion estate over the past year or so.

The four trustees are disputing Chang's ruling. A new hearing on the matter is scheduled Friday morning.

This week, the trustees filed a sealed motion asking that Friday's hearing be closed to the public.

"What we're talking about is having a secret petition, secret motion, with no grounds being made public, just all filed in the confidential cabinet," KITV4 News attorney Evan Shirley said.

KITV4 News and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin are challenging the estate's request for continued secrecy.

"Secret proceedings breed all sorts of problems," Shirley said. "We can go back historically to the Star Chamber. Courts are open. The public pays for the courthouse."

Friday's hearing concerns a multimillion-dollar legal dispute between the Campbell estate and its former law firm, Ashord & Wriston.

Chang has moved to the federal bench. Circuit Judge Colleen Hirai presides on the case Friday.