Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2634 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the number of judges in the second and third district from three to four.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Judiciary. The Office of the Public Defender submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the second judicial circuit serves the tri-island county comprised of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai and only has two circuit court judges. The last judgeship granted was approximately ten years ago, in which the population of this tri-island county has expanded by twenty per cent. Your Committee further finds that the third judicial circuit serves the entire county of Hawaii, which will be home to the impending Drug Court. Your Committee is aware that the funds are currently in the budget and this measure is needed to authorize the appointments. Your Committee believes that this measure is desirable to reduce overtime cost for court staff and reduce the cost of per diem judges.

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 S.B. No. 2634 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.