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 Judiciary Communication No. 1, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Lieutenant Governor, Public Defender, Maui Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), and twenty-three private individuals.

The HSBA subjected the nominee to rigorous review and evaluation before rating the nominee as "highly qualified" for the position. That rating is the highest endorsement given by the HSBA for judicial appointment recommendations. The review includes a thorough evaluation of the nominee based on a modified version of the American Bar Association Guidelines For Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for Judicial Office. The guidelines' criteria include: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, financial responsibility, public service, collegiality, and writing ability.

The nominee received a J.D. degree from the Southwestern University School of Law, a B.A. degree from the Loyola Marymount University, and an A.A. degree from Leeward Community College.

The nominee has been a guest lecturer at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Leeward Community College. The nominee is currently a per diem family court judge in the Second Circuit and a solo practitioner. She has been a Deputy Public Defender in Maui and a Deputy Prosecutor in Honolulu. She has been involved in private practice in family law litigation, including divorce, custody, child abuse, adoption, guardianships, family reunification, and child protective services, as well as in criminal defense of felony and misdemeanor cases. She is an experienced trial attorney and has served as grand jury counsel.

Additionally, the nominee has served on the Board of Directors of the Consulate Condominiums and Maui Community Theater. In 2000, she was admitted to The Elite Who's Who as one of America's Successful Businesswomen.

Your Committee was impressed by the nominee's oral testimony concerning her emphasis on justice in prosecution and rigorous advocacy in defense.

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 nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate consent to the nomination.