Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 828, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal automatic occupation-based exemptions from jury service for attorneys, executive department heads, elected officials, judges, priests and ministers, and active members of the armed forces.

Your Committee received written testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that it is a State policy that all qualified citizens have a right and an obligation to serve as jurors. One of the hallmarks of a participatory democracy is the right to sit on a jury and participate in the meting out of justice.

Your Committee finds that over the years the number of automatic occupation-based exemptions from jury service has increased significantly, so that the pool of qualified juror candidates has become much smaller. Consequently, it has become much more difficult to empanel a jury in Hawaii.

Your Committee agrees that members of certain professions have work-related obligations that make it difficult to serve on a jury. At the same time, your Committee recognizes that the court can excuse individual jurors because of personal and professional hardship. Your Committee agrees that there should be fewer automatic occupation-based exemptions, and therefore agrees with the intent of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 828, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.