STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1791

                                    Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                      , 1999

                                    RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 235
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred
Governor's Message No. 235, as amended by Governor's Message No.
267 to remove the nomination of CALVIN K. MURASHIGE, submitting
for study and consideration the nominations of:

DEFENDER COUNCIL

     G.M. No. 235     JACQUELINE K. MURAI, for a term to expire
                      June 30, 2003;

                      GERONIMO VALDRIZ, for a term to expire
                      June 30, 2003;

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees,
your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees are
volunteers, willing to serve without compensation, and will work
with compassion and commitment to assist in administering various
government functions.  Your Committee further finds that the
nominees have been appointed based upon their professional
credentials, integrity, and a desire to make Hawaii better
through their participation on the Defender Council. 

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
of the nominees:

     Jacqueline K. Murai holds a B.S. degree from the University
of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is a driver education assistant and a
consultant for the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division
for the County of Hawaii.  Ms. Murai has also been a member of

 
                                    STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1791
                                    Page 2


the Lehua Jaycees and has served on the Defender Council since
1998.

     Geronimo Valdriz holds a B.A. and J.D. degree from the
University of Hawaii at Manoa and currently works as an attorney
in private practice on Maui.  He is a member of the Hawaii State
Bar Association, the Filipino Bar Association, and serves as
volunteer counsel for Family Court.  Mr. Valdriz has served on
the Defender Council since 1995.

     Testimony in support of Ms. Murai and Mr. Valdriz was
submitted to your Committee by the Public Defender.  The
testimony supported the nomination of Ms. Murai and Mr. Valdriz
by indicating that they both have contributed significantly as
members of the Defender Council and possess the dedication to
service that qualifies them for continuing appointment to the
Defender Council.

     Your Committee reviewed the testimony and personal letters
from Ms. Murai and Mr. Valdriz in lieu of their appearance before
the Committee and believes that the nominees adequately meet the
Committee's standards for confirmation. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your
Committee, after full consideration of the background, character,
experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the
nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and
recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary,



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair